Texas Parks and Wildlife game warden Matt Marek was led into a high speed chase Tuesday evening with an unknown suspect who escaped capture. TPWD Captain Malcom Wilkes reported that a gray Chevrolet pickup was approached for reckless operation of a vehicle because the driver was doing “donuts” on Salt Creek Road in Early. As the warden approached the vehicle, it fled the scene which led to a cross county high speed chase through county roads and an intersecting highway north of Brownwood and Early. Early Police Department along with Brown County Sheriff’s deputies and the Texas Department of Public Safety assisted in the chase and eventual search for the vehicle which evaded authorities. No visual was able to be made on the driver or any passengers (if present), nor was any identifying information on the vehicle able to be obtained.
According to Wilkes, Marek was the first involved in the chase and was unable to apprehend the suspect due to the winding county roads, dust that was thrown up affecting visibility, and the fact that he was not driving a vehicle designed for such a pursuit. TPWD vehicles are typically 4-wheel drive pickups that are not designed for high speed chases, being light in the back end which affects maneuvering and having top speeds of approximately 95 mph.
The reckless manner of the driver was a danger to the public and those involved in the chase according to authorities.
“There’s only one good thing in a chase, that no one gets hurt,” stated Captain Wilkes.
Officials at BCSO stated that deputies are to “go after those who flee, but to do it as safely as possible.”
Other Law Enforcement arrests and reports released Wednesday, January 5, 2011 are as follows:
Thursday, December 30
*8:20am-Brownwood Police met with Brownwood Fire Marshal Buddy Preston regarding a case of theft. A digital Bushnell game camera that belonged to the Brownwood Fire Department and which was being used in an arson investigation had been stolen. Through follow-up investigations, Preston was able to develop juvenile suspects and was able to recover the camera.
Sunday, January 2
*Brownwood Police arrested 17-year-old Glen West Wilson who was charged with the offenses of indecency with a child involving sexual contact and assault causing bodily injury family violence/strangulation. According to BPD reports, both the 12-year-old victim and Wilson are foster children, and the victim was being watched temporarily at the suspect’s foster home. After playing video games together, the boys exchanged some “off-hand comments” which led to Wilson assaulting the younger child. According to reports, Wilson threw the victim onto a bunk bed, holding him down and choking him, demanding him to let the suspect touch him inappropriately. When other foster children saw the attack, they told Wilson to “get off him” and the assault ended according to police. Caseworkers were called and their investigation led to the arrest of Wilson.
Tuesday, January 4
*6:40am-Brownwood Police were dispatched to the 1700 block of Indian Creek Road where a car wash coin operated machine had been burglarized. According to the report, the complainant stated that $500 in quarters and $100 in one dollar bills were taken. There were no suspects at the time of the report. Pictures of the scene including footprints were taken as evidence.
*9:36am-Brownwood Police met with a complainant at the Law Enforcement Center. According to the report, the complainant stated that he had been harassed and assaulted by his ex-girlfriend over the past year.
*8:00pm-A Brown County Sheriff’s Deputy was dispatched to a property in Rising Star regarding a case of criminal mischief. The complainant stated and he had been out of town from January 2nd at noon through January 4th until about 5:00pm, when he returned to find that the gate to his property had been pulled off the hinges. No suspects were known at the time of the report, nor was there any motive for the damage as nothing else on the property was found to be disturbed.
All arrestees are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
