SAN ANTONIO – A high-speed pursuit that began in Atascosa County ended in Frio County on Friday afternoon after deputies say a driver in a heavy-duty dually truck rammed law enforcement vehicles and a deputy fired at the truck’s tires to stop it.
The Frio County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were notified the pursuit was coming into the county and quickly located the suspect vehicle. Deputies attempted to bring the chase to a safe conclusion, and officers with the Pearsall Police Department assisted by diverting the fleeing vehicle away from city limits and back toward a more rural area.
Deputies deployed a tire deflation device that flattened several of the truck’s tires, but the driver continued fleeing, according to the sheriff’s office.
During the pursuit, the sheriff’s office said the driver began intentionally ramming pursuing law enforcement vehicles. Authorities said units then executed a tactical maneuver to box the vehicle in, and as the suspect tried to break free, a Frio County deputy discharged a firearm, striking and deflating the remaining rear tires. The sheriff’s office said the truck was immobilized and the pursuit ended.
The sheriff’s office said one male driver was taken into custody and is facing multiple felony charges. No physical injuries were reported, and all deputies and officers involved were safe, though “understandably shaken up by the high-stress incident,” the sheriff’s office said.
Multiple Frio County patrol vehicles sustained significant damage after being intentionally rammed, according to the sheriff’s office. The incident remains under active investigation, and the sheriff’s office said the suspect’s identity and specific charges will be released when available.