A Balch Springs man is in local custody, after being injured during a violent series of events in far south Hunt County Tuesday morning.
Brandon Brewer, 26, allegedly stole a West Tawakoni Police Department vehicle, which resulted in a chase and an officer-involved shooting, culminating in a crash with an 18-wheeler.
Hunt County Sheriff Randy Meeks said Brewer was not injured by the gunfire.
“He was injured in the accident,” Meeks said. “He wasn’t hit by a shot at all.”
The incident began at around 9 a.m. Tuesday, when Quinlan Police Chief John Thornburg was notified by a citizen of a possible suspicious vehicle on Highway 751 south of Quinlan.
Meeks said West Tawakoni Police Chief Brandon Kilpatrick was called to assist Thornburg, arrived on the scene first and discovered an unoccupied black passenger car in the northbound lane. Brewer was located close to the vehicle and told the officers the vehicle was his.
A warrant check was conducted which revealed a felony warrant for Brewer out of Collin County.
Brewer was placed under arrest and when searched for weapons, a small bag with a crystal substance appearing to be methamphetamine was discovered.
Brewer was handcuffed and placed into the West Tawakoni Police vehicle and secured for transport. Meeks said the officers discovered Brewer’s vehicle been stolen out of Dallas.
Brewer was able to slip his handcuffs in front and then climbed into the driver’s seat of the West Tawakoni vehicle and drove off from the scene at a high rate of speed as the two officers pursued in the Quinlan Police Department vehicle.
A brief chase ensued, which prompted a quick roadblock being set up by a Hunt County Sheriff’s deputy on County Road 3622.
Brewer reportedly stopped briefly and the officers got out of their vehicles. Brewer then accelerated the stolen patrol vehicle at the officers and shots were fired by all three officers. Brewer continued to evade and crashed into an 18-wheeler which had been standing in the roadway.
Brewer was transported to Hunt Regional Medical Center in Greenville where he was treated and released, and then was booked into the Hunt County Jail on one count each of possession of a controlled substance, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, escape from custody, evading arrest in a motor vehicle and aggravated assault on a peace officer, as well as the outstanding warrants for theft and burglary of a building out of Collin County.
Bond was set at $45,000.
Meeks said the incident was still under investigation as of Tuesday night.