Car chase ends with suspect's arrest in north Houston

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A New Year's Eve car chase in north Houston ended with the suspect in custody and damage to at least one patrol car.

The chase started as a traffic stop attempt on Interstate 45 and West Mount Houston. Eyewitness News caught up with the chase as authorities followed the suspect southbound on I-45 at Greens Road. By then, he'd already struck several vehicles, including at least two patrol cars.

"He put a lot of people in danger. Obviously he had no regard for anyone else," HPD Lieutenant William Picazo said. "They tried to spike his car. They boxed him in once, twice. He rammed the car to get out."

The suspect exited the North Freeway at West Road and went eastbound on city streets. When he hit Highway 59, the suspect turned on the feeder road, heading in the opposite direction of traffic without any headlights on.

Eventually, the suspect turned on the southbound lanes of the feeder and got back on the right side of the roadway.

The suspect made a turn onto Hopper, went off the road and came to a stop. Officers pulled him out of the vehicle and took him into custody.

Picazo says the max speed was only about 60 miles per hour, and it slowed way down.

"Twenty miles an hour because he'd apparently damaged the front of his car and it wasn't running that well. But he kept it going," Picazo said.

Nenetci Martinez works at the fireworks stand at the intersection where the crash ended.

"I was wondering what he did," Martinez said.

Police say the suspect appeared to be under the influence and that the SUV was stolen.

"Why he steal it? He crashed it! He was crying when he came out," Martinez said.

Police say the amazing thing here was that nobody was hurt.

"Definitely not what we were hoping for on New Year's Eve. I'm glad it came to a good end," Picazo said.

Police have not released this man's identity. Charges are pending but he'll at least be charged with hitting the police cars, and likely driving under the influence.