The dramatic conclusion of a police chase outside of Houston, Texas yesterday involved a SWAT battering ram and a lot of tear gas. The chase began when a Harris County deputy noticed a tractor-trailer stalled on I-10, according to KRIV. When the deputy turned his lights on, the truck’s driver started heading down the interstate and refused to stop. The truck weaved from lane to lane, seemingly attempting to shake the pursuer.
The tractor-trailer eventually came to a stop on I-10 in Channelview, about 15 miles east of Houston. Law enforcement used the opportunity to deploy spike strips to immobilize the vehicle as the driver decided to continue fleeing. The truck was up against the highway median with no way to escape, but the driver wouldn’t surrender himself. Even as the cab was peppered with gas pellets, the driver refused to leave and tried to accelerate away with the deflated tires spinning against the pavement.
The police decided to bring out the heavy equipment. Harris County SWAT had an armored battering ram approach the truck. First, it smashed in the window of the sleeper cabin. Then, the ominous black machine moved towards the passenger-side door. It bashed in the window before hingeing onto the door and ripping it off. Not long after, SWAT officers approached the cab and apprehended the driver after the lengthy standoff.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez stated that the driver was heavily impaired but he wouldn’t go into further detail, according to ABC News. Also, the police would discover the trailer attached to the truck was empty. Law enforcement is at a loss as to why the driver behaved like he did. The driver is now facing a felony evasion charge.