Toking Driver Speeds Away from Cops; Crashes, Runs and Then Rendezvous with Officers.

SAN ANGELO, TX -- (SAPD Press Release) Just after 11:00 a.m. Monday, a San Angelo Motors Section Officer that was running LIDAR enforcement in the 4400 block of the W. Houston Harte Expressway observed a vehicle traveling over 100 MPH in a 65 MPH zone.

The Officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle by activating lights and sirens; however, the driver failed to stop, continued at high speeds, disregarded traffic lights, and traversed across highway medians in an attempt to evade police. Due to the high rate of speed and out of concern for public safety, a pursuit was not initiated.

When the Motors Officer came to the area of College Hills Blvd. at the frontage road, several citizens alerted the Officer to the suspect’s vehicle, which was disabled under the bridge in the turnaround lane. The alert citizens also told the Officer that the suspect fled on foot after his vehicle collided with one of the bridge’s concrete support pillars. Traffic in the turnaround lane was temporarily diverted until the disabled vehicle, a 2007 Buick Rendezvous, was towed from the scene.

Additional responding Motors Officers that converged on the area were directed by more citizens to the suspect’s direction of travel. The suspect, later identified as 23-year-old Thomas Ray Rose, Jr., was subsequently located at the intersection of Forest Trail and Sunset Blvd. and taken into custody without incident.

Rose apologized for running from the Police and requested medical assistance. He was transported to Shannon Medical Center for evaluation. Upon release, Rose was transported to the Tom Green County Jail where he was booked in for County Warrants, Evading Arrest Detention with Vehicle, Duty Upon Striking Fixture/Highway Landscape, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Class B Misdemeanor Possession of Marijuana.