High speed chase results in arrest

By Sandy Morris

A routine traffic stop turned into a high speed, two-county chase on Wednesday, Nov. 18, according to the Shackelford County Sheriff’s Office.

At approximately 5:52 p.m., Shackelford County Deputy Mike Henry attempted to make a traffic stop with a vehicle for driving 98 miles per hour (MPH) in a 75 MPH zone. 

The stop was initiated on US Hwy. 180 East, two miles west of FM 2482. 

The 2017 Chevrolet truck with graphics failed to pull over, but continued to gain in speed.

Deputy Henry was joined by Sheriff Ed Miller, Deputy Jason Price, and Officer Mark Purpura in the pursuit as the vehicle progressed toward the Stephens County line. 

Shackelford County dispatch had alerted Stephens County Sheriff’s Office and Breckenridge Police Department who attempted to deploy spike strips on the suspect’s vehicle at Hwy. 180E and FM 3099. 

Once the vehicle reached the Breckenridge city limits, it turned into the parking lot of Buckaroo Burgers and then continued onto FM 3099, avoiding the spike strips. 

Units then continued pursuit on CR 225 until the vehicle turned onto the 100 block of South Harding Street. 

A Department of Public Safety trooper, a Stephens County deputy, and a Breckenridge police department officer attempted to box in the vehicle, which attempted to drive around the roadblock. 

The officers then fired shots into the tires of the fleeing pickup, flattening the tires. 

The vehicle then backed up and went around the officers’ vehicles, crashing into a Stephens County unit before crossing Walker Street and coming to a stop in the 300 block of North Harding due to the flattened tires. 

The passenger, identified as Juan Hernandez, was arrested without incident for public intoxication and booked into Stephens County jail.

The driver fled on foot for a short distance, running into the backyard of a private residence, whose homeowner was outside due to the disturbance.

The homeowner grabbed the suspect until a deputy arrived and took the driver into custody around 6:14 p.m. 

The driver, identified as Randy Guerra of Breckenridge, was wanted on multiple warrants from multiple jurisdictions, including Shackelford County, where he was returned and booked on a warrant for motion to revoke community supervision for a previous offense of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. 

Guerra also was arrested for evading arrest or detention with a vehicle, aggravated assault against a public servant, driving while intoxicated or with an open container of alcohol, and driving with license invalid with a previous conviction or suspension without financial resolution. 

Guerra will also be facing additional charges out of Stephens County.

Hernandez was bonded out of the Stephens County jail on Thursday, Nov. 19.