Brownwood News – On April 4, 2019, Sgt. Gover, Deputy Burke, Detective Taylor, and Detective Rodriguez arrested wanted Florida fugitive Rachel Harris. Harris was charged with possession of methamphetamine. Harris was arrested out of her boyfriend’s, Billy Gay Waddle’s home. Waddle was present at the time of the arrest and was uncooperative with law enforcement.
After the arrest, Waddle posted numerous threats and derogatory remarks directed at Sgt. Gover, law enforcement, and his estranged wife. Waddle’s posts also stated that “Somebody ain’t gonna make it through the night and it may be me”. Waddle’s estranged wife was so concerned about the threats that she reached out to Sgt. Gover and told him that she feared for her safety. Waddle’s estranged wife reported her concerns to the jurisdiction where she is currently residing.
On this date, of April 5, 2019, Mental Health Deputy Thompson reported that Waddle had visited respite looking for his estranged wife because he was concerned for welfare. Sgt. Gover was contacted by a sergeant from the sheriffs office, where the estranged wife resides and confirmed that a report was taken. Later at approximately 11:30 am, Waddle’s daughter called the law enforcement center to report that her father had called her and told her to “call the cops because I am going to kill myself’. The daughter also stated that “he’s been smoking meth and acting crazy”. The daughter also advised that Waddle possessed “guns in his home and in his truck”. This information was relayed as a suicide attempt call. Deputy Langley, Deputy Jayson Bastardo, and, Lt. Pete Bastardo, travelled to Waddle’s residence, located at 9397 US Highway 183 in Brown County, Texas. While inroute, deputies observed Waddle’s white 2012 Dodge pickup, travelling south on US Highway 183. Deputies intercepted the Dodge north of the airport and initiated my emergency lights to conduct a welfare check on Waddle. Waddle failed to yield and continued to disregard emergency lights and siren. Waddle continued southbound on Hwy 183 N reaching speeds up to 80 mph.
Waddle continued west bound on Early BLVD where he almost had a head collision with a patrol car. Waddle continued to ignore authority for him to pull over. Waddle continued to travel down Romines onto Belle plain, onto Main St. onto S. Broadway. Waddle then turned onto Fisk and then turned onto Milton. Waddle then turned onto onto Pecos where he pulled into a private residence. Waddle stayed in the vehicle refusing commands for him to exit the vehicle. It took approximately 23 minutes for Waddle to finally exit the vehicle. After taken into custody and Mirandized Waddle was asked why he failed to stop and he advised that he didn’t think he needed to stop due to him thinking he didn’t do anything wrong. Waddle stated that he had taken a handful of methadone pills in an attempt to kill himself. Waddle was taken to the Brownwood Emergency Room for treatment. During the pursuit, a relative of Waddle called the law enforcement center and advised that Waddle “was going to try to commit suicide by cop”.
Deputies believe that Waddle escalating threats poise a real danger to his estranged wife, named law enforcement officers, law enforcement officers in general, and to himself. Waddle elevated his threats with actions and showed a disregard for public safety when he evaded arrest in a vehicle, the subsequent pursuit, and the stand-off with deputies and police.
