A stolen car crashed into two vehicles and a pedestrian on Friday afternoon in Beaumont before the driver ditched the vehicle and tried to run, according to police. Officers caught him within moments, and the pedestrian was taken to a hospital in stable condition.
Beaumont police said the investigation began at about 2 p.m. Friday after officers located a vehicle suspected of being stolen and tied to a recent hit-and-run, according to KFDM. Police identified the driver as 21-year-old Marquese Thomas. The vehicle had been reported stolen out of Fort Bend County, per the outlet's report.
When officers attempted to make contact with Thomas, he sped away in the vehicle, the station reported. During the pursuit that followed, Thomas struck two vehicles and a pedestrian before abandoning the car and attempting to flee on foot, according to police. Officers quickly caught him and took him into custody.
How Police Tracked Down the Vehicle
Investigators located the stolen vehicle by using license plate reader technology along with assistance from the BPD Real Time Crime Center, per the same account. The technology allowed officers to zero in on the car before any contact was made with Thomas, who then tried to flee.
The pedestrian struck during the chase was transported to a local hospital in stable condition, the report noted. No further details on the pedestrian's identity or the condition of the two struck vehicles were included in the police account.
Weapon, Drugs and an Outstanding Warrant
Officers searching the vehicle after the crash found a handgun and suspected illegal narcotics inside, according to the report. Police also said Thomas had an outstanding warrant at the time of his arrest.
Thomas was booked into the Jefferson County Correctional Facility on multiple charges, including unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, evading and unlawfully carrying a weapon, the station reported.
Beaumont police have used similar tactics before to stop drivers in stolen vehicles. In January 2023, officers patrolling near Lucas and Concord spotted a stolen Hyundai Elantra and attempted a traffic stop, though the driver in that case also fled, according to a statement from the City of Beaumont.
