PRESS RELEASE – On Tuesday, October 10, 2017 right before 1:00 p.m. the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Special Services Division observed a black 2016 Ford F-150, traveling eastbound on Interstate near Hwy 62 in Orange. The driver failed to maintain a single lane and also failed to signal lane change. When deputies initiated a traffic stop, the driver did not comply and began to increase speed.

The driver continued eastbound, taking the MLK exit, and began throwing items from the vehicle through the driver’s side window. He then made the turn under MLK and headed back westbound, continuing to throw items from the vehicle.

The Sheriff’s Office and other local units responded to the locations where items were thrown from the vehicle as the pursuit continued through Vidor and into Beaumont with assistance from the Vidor and Beaumont Police Departments.

The pursuit then continued down the 11^th Street exit, through several side streets until the suspect vehicle wrecked out on Austin Street and the suspect then began running on foot. A 46 year old white male was quickly taken into custody near Shady Ln. The suspect was taken to Christus St. Elizabeth hospital as a precaution and will be transported to the jail shortly.

Sheriff’s Office deputies and investigators, Orange Police Department, Pinehurst Police Department, and the Department of Public Safety were able to locate items thrown from the vehicle which included a baggie of white crystal substance, syringes, ammunition, and a backpack containing a revolver. Numerous credit cards and drivers’ license that did not belong to the suspect were also inside the backpack.

It was found that the truck the suspect was driving was stolen out of Beaumont and also had stolen license plates displayed on the vehicle. The suspect has ties to the Orange, Beaumont, and Vidor areas.

He will be charged with the following offenses:

• Possession of a controlled substance (Felony 3)
• Unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon (Felony 3)
• Felony Evading with a vehicle (State Jail Felony)
• Unauthorized use of a motor vehicle (SJF)
• Theft by possession (misdemeanor charge)

The suspect also has a felony warrant out of Orange County for Possession of a controlled substance with a bond of $5000.

An identification and bond amounts will be available after he has been arraigned.