It all started in The Woodlands after the alleged crooks robbed a couple outside of a 24 Hour Fitness near Six Pines and Lake Woodslands Drive. It finally came to an end on Hadley at Napoleon, just south of downtown Houston.
The three men behind this robbery and wild police chase are in custody this morning at the Montgomery County Jail, facing aggravated robbery and evading arrest charges.
"The next thing I know, one guy threw a punch and hit me in the neck. And then they both pulled out guns on me," Doug Donnenfield said.
They were terrifying moments for Donnenfield, a resident of The Woodlands. He was held at gunpoint and robbed overnight outside of the 24 Hour Fitness gym.
According the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, two armed suspects robbed him of his wallet and phone while a third suspect waited behind the wheel of a stolen getaway car.
"Two guys were coming out of the gym and I called to them to come and help," Donnenfield said. "Kept yelling, 'Help; help; help.' They ran over and I borrowed one of their phones."
Donnenfield was able to call 911 and give an accurate description of the getaway car.
Before long, MCSO deputies spotted the vehicle on Interstate 45 near Rayford Road. They tried to stop it, but chase lasting roughly 20 minutes ensued, reaching speeds of 100mph.
Eventually, the suspects got off of the freeway at I-45 and Scott near the University of Houston, crashed into a curb and bailed out of the car. They were quickly found with the help of a Houston Police Department helicopter and police dogs, plus assistance from DPS and the Harris County Sheriff's Office.
Investigators said they recovered one of the guns, which was still loaded, along with the cash that was taken.
It was a long night for Donnenfield, who tells us he's in shock this actually happened to him.
"I'm just in shock over it for it to happen over here. It's a fairly well-lit parking lot. Not the best in the world, but I know there are security cameras and everything. You'd never think this would happen," Donnenfield said. "And the fact that they pulled guns on me. I mean, I was willing to give them my car, anything they wanted."
The suspects were identified as 19-year-old Frederick Robinson, 19-year-old Edward Brightmon and 20-year-old Tavaris Coleman. Because they were allegedly driving a car stolen out of Houston, HPD is launching their own investigation. More charges are expected to be filed.
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ANOTHER HOUSTON CHASE
Another driver also fled from authorities overnight. A state trooper tried to pull over a driver on Highway 6 near the Katy Freeway. The driver fled into downtown and took the North Freeway before police deployed spike strips.
Three of the car's four tires exploded, and the driver crashed into a tree near Gulf Bank. Police had to use a K-9 unit to force him out of the vehicle. He was taken to the hospital.
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