VIDEO: Chase Suspect Appears Surprised As Cops Arrest Him Outside Of Convenience Store
GARLAND, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) - Police arrested a person suspected of leading officers on a high speed chase on the east side of Dallas. (Raw Video Below)
According to reports Garland Police tried to stop the suspect for a traffic violation just before 3:00 p.m.
Garland officers told CBS 11 they originally made contact with the driver of a minivan during a traffic stop but he fled soon after.
Garland Police said they were in pursuit for about an hour before terminating the chase near Northwest Highway.
Police identified the driver as 47-year-old Stoffon Lorains Cooper.
They said Cooper made statements to the officer that he was "God."
This statement and his actions in the middle of the street concerned the officer of his mental health. Officers discovered Cooper had traffic warrants and attempted to arrest him for those warrants.
Cooper began driving away leading officers in a low speed vehicle pursuit. DPS helicopter and Dallas Police were requested to assist. After pursuing Cooper for some time, through the Garland and Dallas areas, the pursuit was discontinued.
DPS helicopter continued to follow Cooper where he ultimately stopped in the parking lot of a convenience store in the area of Abrams and Northwest Hwy. Cooper went inside the store and once he exited he was taken into custody by Dallas Officers. Cooper had a large machete style knife strapped to his side.
Police said they were also watching news media feeds and saw that the suspect was located by television chopper cameras at a 7-Eleven store on Abrams Street.
Shortly after entering the store, the suspect casually walked out of the store back towards the minivan.
In the meantime, Garland Police had reached out to Dallas Police who were able to make it to the location and surround Cooper with guns drawn.
Garland officers arrived and took Cooper to the Garland Jail where he is charged with evading arrest and the traffic warrants.