Police: Armed Naked Man with Backpack Runs Toward Menard

EARLY, TX — The 10-man west Texas police department in Early dealt with an armed and dangerous man threatening to commit suicide by cop as he was pursued through a pasture. One witness said he was running naked except for a backpack.

The saga began Saturday evening at around 7 p.m. when Early police were dispatched to locate a reckless driver. He was reported by witnesses as swerving from lane to lane at high speeds, almost striking other vehicles on Early Blvd., the main drag through town.

Officer Tasha Tobias on patrol that evening located the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop. The reckless driver sped off before contact could be made and continued to drive recklessly, police said.

Early is just east of Brownwood and Brownwood police were called to assist as the reckless driver traveled westbound through their city. Brownwood police blocked intersections as the driver proceeded west on U.S. 67.

The driver made it through Brownwood and traveled westward out of the city limits and into the county. To evade capture, he turned onto county roads at a high rate of speed. Brown County Sheriff’s deputies were joined by the Texas DPS and Texas game wardens in the chase.

The reckless driver crashed through a fence on County Road 196 and soon ran the vehicle into a creek, disabling the pickup. Not to be deterred, the driver fled on foot into the pastures at which time he called 911. On his cell phone with dispatch, he asked the operator to tell the officers to quit chasing him or he was going to shoot them or commit suicide by cop. That is, he was going to draw a weapon on the police and expect the police to shoot him.

Police built a perimeter where he was last seen between Cheyenne Lane and County Road 156. Police said the suspect fired several shots on several occasions. Police later found an AK-47 with a broke stock. Nearby, the suspect also dropped his driver’s license that identified him as Ryan Christopher Graham of Menard.

Police searched through the night with night vision equipped drones. A DPS helicopter arrived later in the dark early morning with night vision equipment. Despite the night vision technology, the subject was not found.

Graham was seen earlier with a pistol, so he is still considered armed.

Police said a witness told them the suspect was running naked through a pasture carrying a backpack.

Early Sunday morning police learned that the suspect, Graham, had stolen a red Dodge or Ram pickup. He was last seen in Brady.

Brady law enforcement and Menard County law enforcement are currently searching for Graham.

Graham should be considered armed and dangerous. If Graham is spotted please contact your local law enforcement.

Here is the approximate mapping of the chase.