Dog Inside Stolen Truck Reunited With Owner After Chase
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - A police chase that started in Grand Prairie on Friday morning ended with the suspect being caught in Corinth, and a dog being reunited with her owner. The incident began shortly after 9:00 a.m. at the corner of Interstate-30 and Westmoreland Road.
Authorities responded to reports of a carjacking at a scrap yard. The suspect had become involved in a physical altercation with the owner of a truck, and forcibly removed the man from his vehicle. That suspect then got into the truck and tried to run over the owner while driving away from the scene.
Police officers saw the truck as it was leaving the scrap yard, and a chase ensued. The Texas Department of Public Safety assisted police by disabling the vehicle. Still, the pursuit ran along several highways and through multiple cities until finally coming to an end along the northbound Interstate-35E service road near Corinth Parkway.
The suspect, identified as 20-year-old Joshua Aguilera, was taken into custody without further incident, and no injuries were reported. He has been charged with aggravated robbery and evading in a vehicle.
However, there was a dog inside of the truck when it was stolen. As the police chase ended, video showed the pup sticking her head out of the window. When the suspect opened the vehicle's door, the dog was left hanging in limbo, with her front paws on one side of the window and her back legs dangling on the other side.
The dog, named Mia, belonged to the vehicle's owner, Norman Junge. They have since been reunited.
"My biggest concern was if he was going to throw my dog out the window. She's so friendly, she would immediately get in his lap, and I guess she was in his lap when they confronted him," said Junge.
He was thrilled to see his four-legged companion safe and free from harm.
"I'm so happy. Words can't describe how happy I am to have this dog back. It's crazy because she's the friendliest dog in the world," said Junge.
Police said the suspect was being followed by his brother, Jonathan Aguilera, in another stolen vehicle. Grand Prairie police were involved in a short chase with Jonathan Aguilera, but it ended when he crashed and was taken into custody.
