A late-night traffic stop in White Settlement quickly escalated into a brief pursuit and crash early today, ending with a driver in custody, according to police. Officers say the vehicle left the roadway and slammed into a field across from the Westlake Gardens apartment complex along Lakeview Ridge near S. Las Vegas Trail. No injuries were reported, and officers say they recovered suspected illicit drugs at the scene. The driver was booked on a felony evading charge.
Police say Sgt. John Banner's shift initially stopped the vehicle in the 1200 block of Lakeview Ridge before the crash. The driver then ran into a nearby field on foot but ultimately surrendered to officers. Multiple agencies, including the Fort Worth Police Department's West Division, Lakeside and Westworth Village police, two Texas Highway Patrol troopers and an Air One helicopter, helped establish a perimeter. WSPD credited Sgt. Banner, Officer Brian Leal, Corporal Gasper Martinez and Officer Chris Wiseman, along with West Comm dispatchers Sarah Legrand and Kelly Dennis, and said illicit drugs were recovered and the suspect was charged with felony evading arrest and detention with a motor vehicle, according to Christopher Cook.
Update to this evening's traffic stop. Sgt. Banner's shift made a traffic stop on a vehicle in the 9200 block of Barbara Drive. The driver initially stopped, but once contact was made by the officer, the suspect fled the scene towards Westpoint Blvd. and turned eastbound. As the… pic.twitter.com/NH5CbT18KJ
— Christopher Cook (@cooktx) April 14, 2026
The White Settlement Police Department is the small city's full-service agency and operates the WEST COMM dispatch center that serves several nearby jurisdictions and federal facilities. The department's site lists roughly 60 staff and notes 24/7 coverage for residents and businesses. That local footprint means WSPD often coordinates with neighboring agencies on pursuits and crash investigations, according to About WSPD.
What the evading charge could mean
Under Texas law, evading arrest or detention is defined in Texas Penal Code §38.04. The offense can be filed as a misdemeanor or elevated to a felony when certain factors apply, such as operating a vehicle with what the statute describes as a "reckless indifference to the safety of others" or causing serious bodily injury. Felony punishments vary by subsection and can include multi-year prison terms, depending on harm and other circumstances. For the statute text and range of penalties, see Texas Penal Code §38.04.
Where this happened
Police say the crash and foot chase unfolded around the 1200 block of Lakeview Ridge, just west of S. Las Vegas Trail and the Tumbleweed Trail intersection, a busy connector between White Settlement and south Fort Worth. The corridor has been the focus of recent safety and signal work as municipalities coordinate improvements. City project materials document Las Vegas Trail upgrades, and local reporting has highlighted new traffic signals at the nearby intersection.
The investigation remains active, and police did not immediately release the suspect's name or booking details. Officials asked anyone with information about the stop or the moments leading up to the crash to contact West Comm dispatch.
