Injured Hitchcock police officer shoots fleeing high-speed chase suspect, police say

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A Hitchcock police officer shot a high-speed chase suspect after being struck by the suspect's vehicle in the Heights area early Sunday morning.

At about 1:15 a.m., investigators said an officer attempted to stop a driver in a white Dodge Challenger in a traffic stop on Highway 6 near Monroe.

The driver refused to stop, leading Hitchcock police and Galveston County sheriff's deputies on a high-speed chase, according to Hitchcock PD Chief Wilmon Smith.

The suspect reportedly pulled over several times, acting as if he would stop, but took off again.

The chase went to I-10 into Houston, where the suspect turned onto N. Shepherd Drive into the Heights area and stopped.

According to Smith, Hitchcock Police Officer Sanford got out of his vehicle and approached the suspect's car in an attempt to take the driver into custody.

Smith said that the suspect took off and hit Sanford, who fired his gun at the car and struck the suspect in the shoulder.

The challenger stopped in the 500 block of N. Shepherd Drive, where officers said they were able to take him into custody.

Investigators said Sanford and the suspect were both transported to the hospital.

The suspect was wanted out of Harris County for aggravated assault-family violence with a deadly weapon and additional charges are now pending in both Galveston and Harris County as a result of the chase, according to police.

Investigators have not released his identity.

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