WORDS & PHOTOS by
WORDS & PHOTOS by MICHAEL BARRON idiots, you’re going to fucking hit one of us.” At this point the chase was into its second hour and supervisors were getting pissed. Units were getting trashed; wrecks were popping up everywhere and news helicopters were starting to arrive along with HPD’s fox. (Not sure why it took so long for either to arrive, but if I remember correctly, some larger news story was breaking on the opposite side of town) We had now traveled up and down Beltway 8 in both directions and DPS had tried several times to deploy spike strips with no success. This guy was all over the road, curbs, driveways, you name it. By this time, we were no longer lead vehicle. Our brakes had faded to the point they were useless. As we approached JFK for the like the 20th time, DPS had deployed spikes again and this time they were successful – in nailing our right rear tire. SOOOO we pulled into a parking lot to change a tire, get something to drink, go to the bathroom and listen to the insanity that this chase had become. By the having watched way too may cop chases on TV, we decided to block the intersection with my car. STUPID MOVE!! We both got out and stood behind the car with guns drawn, just like in the movies. SECOND STUPID MOVE. Now here we are, two stupid cops, hiding behind a stupid car in the MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. As this caravan of cops appeared in the distance with what seemed like hundreds of flashing lights I remember saying “Uhhhh maybe this isn’t such a good idea.” It was at about that moment, we both turned and started to run towards the ditch behind our car. As I looked towards the approaching van, he swerved and was headed right for us. The SOB was going to run right over us at 100 mph. I will never forget the terrified look on the drivers face as he drove right at us. They say I fired 4 times. I don’t even remember that. I remember the glass on van being all fractured with bullet remember seeing dozens of cops running past me with guns drawn. All screaming something. I turned around to where I last saw my partner and there in the ditch, exactly where that van had just been was John standing up. OMG are you alright? “Yeah the asshole went right over the top of me.” We both ran towards the van, and by this time the suspect was being handcuffed. It was quite obvious that he had been struck by multiple rounds was bleeding profusely. As I walked up to the van, I swear there was no less than a hundred bullet holes in the side of that smoking piece of crap. What happened next, I will never forget as long as I live. The sound of a baby crying coming from inside the van. One of the officers Working day shift is sometimes tor running and expired plates. 8 and all the side streets in the downright boring. Reports, As the deputy pulled in, the sub- area. We exited the freeway onto reports and more reports. Accidents? ject he took off, and as they say, the beltway and low and behold Yeah, more reports. Mail the chase was on. For the next as we approached JFK Parkway, runs, prisoner transfers, court, hour, this deputy and half the the damn van turn north on JFK you name it. Just boring same law enforcement agencies on right in front of us and we were ole, same ole. So, when a chase the North Side of Houston, joined the lead vehicle. What the hell? pops up, you join in right – if in the pursuit of this broken Holy Shit Batman. With dozens you’re close, sometimes even if down, piece of crap van. and dozens of cops behind us, you’re not. An interesting note here was we took over calling out locations. Today would be one of those 30 minutes into the chase, dispatch I remember the first turn days when you say enough is received a call that the the suspect made, was a U-turn enough and you just go. It was grocery store where the chase on JFK and started back southbound. about 2:45pm on a Thursday and originated had been robbed by Within a few seconds, I had just pulled into the Humble a white female – who was now it sounded like we were driving substation to turn in some standing in the parking lot – through rocks or gravel. A metal- opened reports. As I walked in the door, looking for her get-away driver lic sound hitting the fenders of the back doors I heard the start of what would who was running from the your car. My partner said, “what and there inside the become one of the longest chases Police. the hell is that?” “I don’t see any back of the van was an in the history of our depart- Approximately 70 minutes into rocks on the road”. It was at that 18-month old baby girl. Bleeding ment. Now this was long before this chase, a good friend of mine moment when we realized that holes. but alive. Thank God. I remember unit numbers had changed to and a detective assigned to my the mile-long stream of cops on I remember it yelling into my radio – send me make any sense and I have no district, had just walked out of the opposite side of the median passing so close to me LIFEFLIGHT. We have an injured idea who was really involved JP court and wanted to know WERE SHOOTING AT THE VAN I could feel the force of the air baby. Then almost instantly an so I’m just making these up, so what was going on. Why was AND BULLETS WERE HITTING US. push me backwards towards my ambulance pulled alongside us please don’t take offense (I mean to use that word by the way) if I use your number and your weren’t a part of this history making event. The chase started at Aldine everyone standing around the radio? Because we are listening to what could become one of the longest chases in the county’s history. Well hell, he said, let’s go be a part of history. And just WTF. I SCREAMED INTO THE RADIO, STOP!!! YOU’RE HITTING US. Now to the hundreds not involved in the chase this sounded stupid. time the tire was changed, it was almost 5:30. The chase had lasted almost 3 hours at this point. As we pulled on to JFK one last patrol car. What I didn’t see was my partner. One minute he was beside me and then he wasn’t. I remember hearing gunshots, but I didn’t know where they were coming from. and took the baby and began treating her. Miraculously, the baby wasn’t severely injured. The suspect was transported to a local hospital and survived. As we all stood and stared at Mail Route and Aldine Westfield like we headed south on the Eastex But to those on the op- time I heard “Unit 4205 we are As the van passed by me, it the smoking van, I remember a at a small grocery store. A unit passing by observed an old piece of junk van parked outside with a white male inside with the mo- Freeway to do just that. By this time, the chase had centered itself around the George Bush Airport, Beltway posite side of the road they knew exactly what I meant. Although a unit behind me was more direct “Stop fucking shooting you now Eastbound on Aldine Bender from Aldine Westfield. WTF. They are headed our way AGAIN! At this time, I guess from continued into the ditch and rolled onto its side. Mud, water and trash were flying everywhere. As it slid to a stop, I Sgt. walking up and asking, “OK, I need to see everyone who fired Continued on Next Page 24 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 25
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