UPDATE: MAN WHO LED DEPUTIES ON A HIGH SPEED CHASE ARRESTED
El Paso County Sheriff's Office
3850 Justice Dr. El Paso, Texas 79938
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Deputy Jesse Tovar / Public Information Officer
Direct: (915) 538-2223
Pager: (915) 533-0733 (#5370)
Release Date & Time: Thursday, August 28, 2008 11:55 AM
WHO: El Paso County Sheriff's Office (Traffic Section-STI)
WHAT: Sheriff Deputies (STI's) arrest man who led them on a high speed chase
WHERE: LOOP 375 EL PASO COUNTY, TX
WHEN: Saturday, August 16, 2008 3:50 AM
WHY: ARREST MADE
Information:
El Paso County, TX- Early Saturday morning 08-16-08 at approximately 3:50 AM, Sheriff's Office Traffic Units were out in force working a DWI drive funded by a TXDOT grant. A Sheriff's Deputy spotted a silver Ford Escort driving recklessly in the area of loop 375 reference point 37. Deputies observed that the vehicle was swerving and traveling at high speeds. Deputies attempted to pull the vehicle over in the area of Joe Battle & Montana (at the Montana exit). The driver refused to stop and continued north on Loop 375. Several Sheriff's Office units joined the pursuit as the suspect vehicle proceeded north on Loop 375 and exited at the Railroad exit. In a desperate effort to elude authorities, the driver then took the turn-around and re-entered Loop 375 traveling south (back towards Montana) . Traffic Units continued to pursue while coordinating with other units responding. At approximately reference point 32 south, the suspect vehicle exited the new exit created for entrance into Ft. Bliss. & again proceeded north on Loop 375. The vehicle continued north for several miles at which time he crossed the center median and proceeded south on Loop 375. The suspect once again attempted to cross the center median when he lost control of the vehicle which rolled several times until it came to rest in the center median on the driver's side. The vehicle's engine caught fire and was quickly extinguished by Deputies.
Deputies had to cut the driver free from his seat belt and pulled him out of the vehicle. The driver suffered minor lacerations but was conscious and responsive. He was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation. He was identified as Michael Rodriguez (21) of the 100 block of Toledo, El Paso, TX.
Earlier this morning 08-28-08 at about 10:30 AM, Sheriff Deputies (STI's) arrested & charged Rodriguez with the offense of Evading Arrest / Detention w/ vehicle. He was booked at the El Paso County Detention Facility under a $10,000 Bond.
The pursuit and accident were caught on patrol unit video recorders which have been submitted as evidence. It will not be available at this time.
This case remains under investigation.
ARRESTED:
MICHAEL EDWARD RODRIGUEZ (21)
CHARGE: EVADING ARREST-DETENTION w/ VEHICLE- $10,000 BOND
End of News Release
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office in March of 2001 was the first Sheriff’s Office in the State of Texas to be Internationally Accredited from CALEA and is now the recipient of the First CALEA Tri-Arc award in Texas (4th in the Nation) to have accreditations in: Law Enforcement, Communications, Training Academy.