A Sunday night traffic stop in Jarrell erupted into a high-speed chase on northbound I-35, ending when a police officer shot a 20-year-old driver who is now in stable condition after surgery. The officer has been placed on paid administrative leave while the Texas Rangers investigate.
Traffic stop turns into pursuit
Jarrell police say it started around 7:40 p.m. when a blue Chevrolet SUV rolled through a stop sign at Ronald Reagan Boulevard and the northbound I-35 frontage road. Officers pulled the vehicle over and reported that the driver delayed and could not provide a driver’s license or proof of insurance.
According to KWTX, officers said they smelled a strong odor of marijuana and instructed the driver to step out of the SUV. Instead, he allegedly shifted into drive and took off onto I-35, with speeds topping 100 miles per hour as officers followed.
Dangerous driving through an active work zone
As the pursuit continued north, police say the SUV ran a red light and began driving erratically. The vehicle reportedly slammed through traffic cones and weaved between barricades inside an active construction zone, forcing workers to scramble out of the way to avoid being hit. That description of the SUV’s path and the close call for crews was detailed by CBS Austin.
How the stop ended
Officers eventually used a tactical vehicle maneuver to bring the SUV to a stop. Police say they then ordered the driver out of the vehicle and repeatedly commanded him to show his hands and stop reaching.
The driver allegedly continued making what officers described as furtive movements and kept reaching toward the floorboard. During that encounter, a Jarrell officer fired a single round that hit the driver in the upper right torso. Officers pulled him from the SUV and rendered aid until emergency medical crews arrived. He was taken to a local hospital for surgery and is listed in stable condition, according to KWTX.
What officers say they found
After the shooting, investigators searched the SUV. Police say they found a semi-automatic pistol on the driver’s floorboard, along with drug paraphernalia, an alcoholic beverage, a vape pen that tested presumptive positive for THC, and a baggie believed to contain marijuana, CBS Austin reports. Authorities have not yet released the driver’s name.
Investigation and next steps
The Texas Rangers are leading the investigation with help from the Jarrell Police Department, the Bell County District Attorney’s Office and the Bell County Sheriff’s Office. The officer who fired the shot remains on paid administrative leave while the case is reviewed. Officials say more information will be released as the investigation moves forward.
