The Fayette County Record
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Law Enforcement Report Rash of Auto Pursuits Locally

By Andy Behlen
In a separate incident Monday afternoon, Fayette County Interdiction Investigator David Smith attempted to stop a pickup on the westbound side of Interstate 10 near the Gonzales County line. Following a brief pursuit, the driver fled on foot into thick brush. Deputy Rick Bohlmann of the Sheriff’s Office assisted with the search, along with Flatonia Police. Officers were unable to find the driver.

A vehicle pursuit that began on backroads in Lavaca County ended in a crash near the intersection of US 77 and East County Line Road just north of the Fayette County line Monday.

Lavaca County Chief Deputy J.R. Peters was attempting to follow the vehicle when it sped away on County Line Road. The vehicle, a four-door pickup with the rear seats removed, failed to stop at the intersection and hit another vehicle that was traveling on US 77. Two suspects fled from the wrecked pickup and managed to evade law enforcement on foot. The lone female occupant of the other vehicle was not injured.

Texas Parks and Wildlife deployed a drone to help in the search, but the suspects were never found. The two suspects were described as Hispanic males. One was approximately 5’5” and wore a white shirt and camo pants. The other was approximately 5’10” and wore a blue shirt and blue jeans.

Lavaca County Sheriff Micah Harmon told the Record he believes the incident on Monday was connected to another chase the day before that involved about a dozen suspected illegalimmigrants.

On Sunday evening, May 2, Lavaca County Sheriff’s Office reported that deputies along with Hallettsville Police officers chased a vehicle down County Road 221B off FM 532 in the Hackberry community. The report said the vehicle crashed and about 10 to 12 suspected illegal immigrants fled into the brush.

Harmon said the suspects from Sunday were never located. Harmon said the two suspects from Monday were likely among the dozen who ran from officers on Sunday.

“No doubt, they were part of the smuggling from the night before,” he said.

In both cases, the pickups involved were four-door 4x4s.

“There’s definitely been a marked increase in this kind of activity,” Harmon said. “We’ve had 13 trucks stolen (in Lavaca County) since first of year, and all have been ¾ or 1 ton double cab 4x4 trucks, the vehicle of choice for human smugglers.”

Harmon attributed the increase to the Biden Administration’s immigration policies at the U.S.-Mexico border.

“It’s a free-for-all on the border,” he said.

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