According to the police report, this chase first started around midnight when a local officer observed a Silver Ford F-150 pickup truck passing him at a high rate of speed on FM 471. The traffic stop quickly escalated, turning into a 10-12 mile high-speed pursuit all the way from the Natalia area into Frio County this past Sunday, October 22.
Five departments assisted in the chase, which came straight through downtown Devine, and ended when the driver wrecked near Moore.
“The officer stated that he was trying to conduct a traffic stop for a moving violation and the driver finally stopped near the bus barn in Natalia, but as the officer was exiting the vehicle, the guy took off again at a high rate of speed,” said Natalia Police Chief Gilbert Rodriguez.
By this time, several departments including Devine PD, the Medina County Sheriff’s office, and the Frio County Sheriff’s office had been paged to assist in the pursuit.
“The driver continued through Devine at a high rate of speed, running the red light in downtown, and continued south on the I-35 access road toward Moore. Thank goodness no one was crossing Hwy 173 when he ran that red light.”
The chase finally ended about a mile after crossing the Frio County line.
“The driver eventually had a blowout, and he spun out into the grassy median as he lost control. The driver still refused to get out of the vehicle and there was a little scuffle as he was arrested,” Chief Rodriguez said. “The report states that the passenger side wheel had actually completely broken off the front axle in the accident.”
The driver was 28-year-old male out of San Antonio, and he was not injured in the accident. He was booked into Medina County Jail, and faces charges including Evading Arrest with a Vehicle ($15,000 Surety Bond), Driving While Intoxicated ($1500 PR Bond), and Resisting Arrest Search or Transport ($2,500 PR Bond).