Stolen Semi Cab Chase Starts In Dallas, Ends Peacefully In Denton
DENTON (CBSDFW.COM) – A suspect in a stolen white semi truck cab led Dallas County Sheriff's authorities on a more than 40 mile chase from south Dallas to Denton on Tuesday.
At about 2:30 p.m., the legal driver of the semi cab reported it stolen to an off duty Dallas Police officer. The suspect took the entire 18-wheeler from a Flying J truck stop on Interstate 20 and Bonnie View Rd. while the actual driver stopped to get a cup of coffee.
The 18-wheeler belongs to Ash Transport, a trucking company based in Chattanooga, Tenn. It was hauling spare carpet parts to Dalton, Ga. when it was taken.
A spokesman for the company said the cab had a GPS tracking device installed and dispatchers caught the suspect dumping the trailer at Forham Rd. and Illinois Ave. in southeast Oak Cliff.
Shortly after, Dallas County Sheriff's Deputies spotted the cab running up Interstate 35 at Colorado Ave.
Deputies began chasing the cab at Reunion and Interstate 35 at 2:42 p.m. The driver then passed through Carrollton, Lewisville and Corinth on the way into Denton.
Chopper 11 footage showed police throw a spike strip in front of the cab near the Teasley Ln. exit in Denton. The semi's front left tire began to smoke near the McCormick St. exit and the driver got off the freeway on North Texas Blvd.
The individual pulled over on Kendolph Street along I-35 between the Sack 'N Save grocery store and a McDonalds and surrendered. Police then entered the cab with guns drawn and peacefully arrested the suspect at about 3:23 p.m.
"We chased the vehicle all the way up to Denton, Texas until we could find a place to successfully, safely use the stop sticks to bring this to a conclusion," said Sr. Sgt. Don Peritz of the Dallas County Sheriff's Department.
Late Tuesday, the Sheriff's Department identified the suspect as Garrick Beck, 45, of Dallas. Beck has a long criminal history spread across myriad Texas cities, including a conviction for aggravated robbery in 1995 and multiple felonies for forging a financial instrument in Dallas and Bryan.
He also was charged with felony evading arrest in El Paso in 2009.
While he is jailed, Dallas County has not posted what he's been charged with. He appeared before a magistrate in Denton before being moved south to Dallas, however.
