Man in Dump Truck Leads Law Enforcement on Lengthy Pursuit

MCCULLOCH COUNTY, TX — At approximately 8:40 a.m. Thursday, Brady Police were dispatched to the Tractor Supply at 2309 South Bridge Street for the report of a suspicious person. The caller advised dispatch that they had seen a man spray painting the front cab of a dump truck in the parking lot.

According to the Brady Police Department post, officers did make contact with the subject and immediately noticed some type of handgun visible and holstered on the subject’s waistband. The officer asked the male subject to identify himself and he was unable to give any form of identification.

The officer tried to disarm the individual and the subject stated he would not comply as he walked toward the dump truck. The officer gave many verbal commands for the male to stop and they were all ignored.

The male subject jumped into the driver’s side of the truck and began pulling out of the parking lot, ignoring all commands of the officer. The truck drove southbound on Hwy 87 towards Mason, while the officer followed behind with his emergency sirens and light activated.

The pursuit of the truck involved four different law enforcement agencies, Brady PD, McCulloch County Sheriff’s Office, Texas State Troopers, and Menard County Sheriff’s Office and spanned three different counties; McCulloch, Mason, and Menard. Spike strips were used to stop the vehicle but they had little effect on the truck's tires.

The pursuit ended in Menard county, where the male finally stopped and was taken into custody without further incident. The driver did attempt to give a fictitious name but was later identified as Bradley Vance Brooks, 32, of Ohio.

Further investigation showed the dump truck had been reported stolen out of Memphis, Tennessee on April 17. The license plate had been removed and replaced with another stolen from Strawn, Texas.

A shotgun was discovered in the cab of the truck and the handgun that Brooks had on his person was reported stolen through the Southaven, Mississippi Police Department on April 17.

Brooks was transported to the McCulloch County Sheriff’s Office where he was booked and jailed pending arraignment by a magistrate.

In relation to this incident, Brooks has been charged with theft of a firearm, possession of firearm/convicted felon, evading arrest/detention with a motor vehicle, unauthorized use of vehicle, and tampering with a vehicle identification number.

More information cane be found at the Brady Standard-Herald.