Coleman County law enforcement agencies were involved in two separate chases on Sunday evening, August 7th, both originating in neighboring counties. According to Coleman County Sheriff Les Cogdill:
On Sunday August 7, 202, at around 9:53 PM, Coleman County was advised that the Winters Police Department (Runnels County) was attempting to stop a silver colored Ford F-150 pickup that fled from officers in Winters.
At 10:05 PM, Coleman County Law Enforcement located the vehicle on State Highway 153 traveling eastbound into the City of Coleman. At the time the vehicle was traveling at speeds over 100 mph. Coleman County Sheriff’s Office, Coleman Police Department, Santa Anna Police Department, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Texas Department of Public Safety and Winters Police Department attempted to stop the vehicle. The suspect traveled eastbound on Walnut Street then turned onto Neches Street and began to travel northbound. Once the vehicle reached North Neches and the US Hwy 84 Bypass, the driver turned onto US Hwy 84 Bypass and began to travel south towards Santa Anna.
The suspect vehicle was finally stopped on U.S. Highway 84 between State Highway 153 and FM 568 and the driver was taken into custody. The driver was identified as Alberto Cantu of Bangs, Texas. Cantu was later transported back to Runnels County Jail.
Cantu was arrested for the following charges:
- Evading Arrest w/vehicle 3rd degree Felony
- Possession Marijuana Class B Misdemeanor
- Reckless Driving Class B Misdemeanor
- Interference w/Public Duties Class B Misdemeanor.
SECOND PURSUIT
At 10:58 PM Sunday, Coleman County Dispatch was advised by Brown County Dispatch that law enforcement was attempting to stop a vehicle they were in pursuit of which had just entered into Coleman County. Santa Anna Police Department and Texas Department of Public Safety located the vehicle just east of the City of Santa Anna. The vehicle was traveling at speeds over 90 mph as it entered into the City of Santa Anna. Santa Anna PD and Texas DPS advised that the vehicle was a small gray vehicle with paper tags and it was headed through Santa Anna.
Coleman County Sheriff’s Office observed the vehicle coming out of Santa Anna and attempted to stop the vehicle for speeding and defective headlamp. The vehicle accelerated to speeds over 100 mph. Coleman County Law Enforcement pursued the vehicle north on U.S. Highway 84 towards the City of Coleman. During the pursuit between Santa Anna and Coleman the vehicle continued to travel at speeds over 100 mph and at times was driving on the wrong side of the road.
As the suspect reached the intersection of U.S. Highway 84 and State Highway 153, the suspect turned onto State Hwy 153 (Walnut Street) and began to travel westbound on Walnut Street at speeds over 80 mph. The suspect then turned onto Neches Street and began to travel northbound reaching speeds over 90 mph. The suspect continued to travel northbound on Highway 84 towards Taylor County. During the pursuit on Highway 84 between Coleman County and Taylor County speeds reached over 115 mph. Several times during the pursuit the driver was on the wrong side of the road and at times would turn his headlights off.
Taylor County was advised that the pursuit was coming towards their county. The pursuit entered Taylor County at which time Taylor County Sheriff’s Office and Texas Department of Public Safety out of Abilene assisted in the pursuit. Taylor County Sheriff’s Office was able to deploy stop sticks near the Hill Top gas station. The deployment of the stop sticks was successful but the driver refused to stop and speeds were down to about 15 mph. Law Enforcement conducted a PIT maneuver on the suspect which brought the pursuit to an end south of the City of Abilene. The driver was identified as Blake Lee Justice, 21, of Abilene, Texas. (Justice is shown in photo) Justice was transported back to the Coleman County Jail and booked in for the following charges:
- Evading Arrest w/Veh, 3rd degree Felony, Bond set at $20,000
- Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle, State Jail Felony, Bond set at $20,000
- Warrant out of Taylor County for Unlawful Possession of Firearm by felon, 3rd degree Felony, Bond set at $15,000
- Parole Warrant (Blue Warrant) No Bond
Agencies involved in this pursuit were: Coleman County Sheriff’s Office, Santa Anna PD, Coleman PD, Coleman DPS, Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, and DPS Taylor County.