Authorities are searching for a suspect who escaped after a crash during a pursuit involving ICE agents Saturday morning near Veterans Memorial Drive in northwest Houston, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
The pursuit began around 6:30 a.m. in Montgomery County, after sheriff’s deputies received an alert that federal agents were following the suspect’s vehicle, HCSO Major Al Blendermann told KHOU 11.
About 10 minutes later, near Fallbrook and Veterans Memorial Drive, the suspect crashed into another vehicle, causing it to flip over. The suspect then ran into a nearby wooded area and has not been tracked down.
A passenger was inside the suspect’s vehicle at the time of the crash. Both the female passenger and the driver of the other vehicle received medical attention.
The other driver suffered minor injuries. The passenger however declined to be taken to the hospital and instead left on her own, Blendermann told KHOU.
Deputies brought in a K-9 unit to assist with the search but lost the suspect’s scent shortly afterward.
Lt. Shannon Bowdoin told KHOU 11 that an ICE agent suffered an injury to the wrist while attempting to break the suspect’s car window at a different location. ICE agents had a removal order for the suspect, Bowdoin said.
The sheriff’s department said it is filing two charges including failure to stop and render aid against the suspect. It remains unclear what charges federal authorities may pursue.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.