Chase with suspect accused of pointing gun at people ends in fiery crash in SW Houston

Thursday, October 19, 2023
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A police chase with a suspect accused of pointing a gun at people came to a fiery end in southwest Houston on Wednesday night.

SkyEye captured video of the suspect's vehicle engulfed in flames on the I-69 Southwest Freeway near Westpark Drive.
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The chase happened just hours after Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said the department is now pursuing fewer drivers.

SEE ALSO: 'Too many': HPD Chief Finner reveals revised version of chase policy amid growing number of pursuits
HPD Chief Troy Finner reveals revised version of chase policy


Police said the chase started around 6:45 p.m. near the Westheimer Road exit on I-69.

Officers tried to stop the driver because he was acting erratically and pointing a gun at people, HPD said. He didn't stop, and that's when the chase began.



The car the suspect was driving was also reported stolen out of Dallas, according to police.
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During the chase, the suspect crashed into an innocent woman's car. Thankfully, she was not hurt.

It all came to an end when the driver slammed into a pole. His car went up into flames and officers had to break the windows to rescue him from the fire, HPD said.

Police said the suspect ended up with a broken leg.

RELATED: HPD records nearly a two-thirds increase in pursuits over the last year as chase policy changes
HPD chief on need for chase policy: Suspects driving 4K-lb. 'missile'

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Last month, not long after a sergeant's mother was hit and killed by a fleeing suspect, HPD changed their pursuit policy.

During a city council meeting on Wednesday, Finner said officers are initiating far fewer chases with the new policy in place.



"Violent individuals commit crimes in those vehicles, drive-by shootings, everything, so we can't just totally abandon the pursuits, but we are working smarter," Finner said.

Finner went on to say there have been 40% fewer pursuits in the past 30 days since the policy went into effect.

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