East Texas

Gregg County Sheriff's Deputies arrested an Arp man today following a high-speed chase.

Sheriff’s Investigator Tracy Freeman attempted to stop a black Nissan SUV on Interstate 20 this morning after the vehicle was identified as a traffic violator, according to Lt. Mike Claxton, Gregg County Sheriff's public information officer. As Freeman positioned for a stop the driver, of the SUV evaded the deputy and fled.

The SUV turned southbound onto Texas 42 and entered into the City of Kilgore before diverting to US 259, according to Claxton. Once on 259, the driver fled northbound to Longview at speeds in excess of 90 mph. Kilgore Police joined the pursuit to assist Freeman, Claxton said.

As the SUV left Kilgore, Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers intercepted the SUV. The driver continued to evade law enforcement and entered into Longview. Longview Police Officers assisted in the chase throughout Longview before the driver was stopped on Reel Road, Claxton said.

Officers assisting in the pursuit used spike sticks to force stop the SUV.

“Due to the operation of the SUV by the driver, officers had to take action to prevent the potential injury to other motorists and civilians in the area,” Claxton said in a prepared statement. “These types of pursuit pose a great interest to the safety of citizens."

No officers nor citizens were injured, Claxton reported.

The driver, whose name has not been released, was arrested and charged with evading arrest with a vehicle and aggravated assault on a public servant. Claxton said in a prepared statement that the driver is from Arp. An arraignment hearing is expected sometime tomorrow.

“We believe the driver may have intended to bring harm to himself today based on what he told someone who called law enforcement during the pursuit,” Claxton said in a prepared statement.

Updated Monday, Jan. 28, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. CST

Stop sticks were used to slow down this vehicle, involved in a high-speed chase today.
(Courtesy Gregg County Sheriff)