Rockwall County Traffic Stop Leads To Gunfire & Chase
Follow CBSDFW.COM: Facebook | Twitter
SUNNYVALE (CBSDFW.COM) - A man accused of ramming a Rockwall County deputy with his pickup truck early Friday led authorities on a high-speed chase that ended in Dallas County. The incident began shortly after 1:00 a.m. when the deputy tried to stop the driver.
Instead of just pulling over, the male suspect allegedly decided to put his vehicle into reverse and ram into the squad car. The deputy feared for his life and fired shots toward the driver, who had already started to flee from the scene. A chase ensued that ran near Terrell and through Forney.
The driver was followed by Rockwall County deputies on the ground and a Texas Department of Public Safety helicopter in the air. But it was deputies from Dallas County that were eventually able to spike the pickup truck's tires just before Collins Road in Sunnyvale. The truck came to a stop near a Valero gas station along Clay Road.
Paramedics were called to the scene to treat the suspect, later identified as Billy Jack Thomas of Odessa. He had suffered some superficial wounds. However, according to officials, it is not clear if Thomas was shot or injured by glass that shattered during the gunfire. No deputies were injured during this incident.
Authorities said that Thomas now faces charges of aggravated assault on a public servant, detention with a motor vehicle and evading arrest.