Man on bike accused of firing shots at sergeant and landlord during eviction in La Marque

LA MARQUE, Texas (KTRK) -- A man on a bicycle is accused of firing shots at law enforcement as a deputy constable tried to serve him an eviction on Monday, according to police.

La Marque police were called to the 2300 block of Rosalee Street around 1 p.m. Monday after a suspect on a bicycle allegedly fired a handgun at a Galveston County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 Constable's Office sergeant and the landlord involved in the eviction.

The suspect, identified as 28-year-old William Rudd, fired approximately five shots at the sergeant and the landlord, according to police.

"Thank God he didn't have a clear line of sight to us. We were on the second level but then further away. I was scared, but I knew that the officer had a vest, so I ducked behind him," said the landlord, whose name we are concealing because he worries the shooter could be back.

"You have to sit back and think first about what is the aftermath of this," explained Sgt. Danny Allen, a Deputy Constable with Precinct 3 in Galveston County. "I think at the time, when the landlord was parked behind the individual who was shooting, if I would have fired back, his mother was too close in proximity if I were to engage the defendant so I just chose not to at the time."

Rudd fled the scene on the bike but was later found by police in the 500 block of Bayou Road.

When officers attempted to take Rudd into custody, he ditched the bike and fled on foot, according to police. Officers chased Rudd and were able to apprehend him and recover the gun they believed was used in the shooting.

Rudd is charged with evading arrest, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and aggravated assault of a peace officer. His bond was set at $152,500 total for the three charges.

According to the Galveston County court records, Rudd has a history of evictions and was most recently served an eviction notice from the same property where the shooting happened in February and was served a notice to vacate last week.

"He seemed to be very emotional. He didn't pay attention to what was around him. Thank God he didn't turn around. My mother was (an) arms reach (way from) her. He didn't hurt her. He came for us," the landlord said.