Suspect shot following muli-county chase ending in Maypearl

Photo courtesy Alvarado Police Department.

A man was shot by police on Monday, January 30, 2017 in Maypearl following a multi-county chase that began in Alvarado.

MAYPEARL — Following a multi-county chase that began in Alvarado, police shot a suspect in Maypearl Monday morning after the suspect rammed a police vehicle head on.

On Monday at 3:50 a.m., an officer from the Alvarado Police Department (APD) observed a white, 2004 Chevy pickup, driving slowly around closed businesses and circling two hotel parking lots. As the officer turned into the parking lot, the driver (Tommy Berry W/M, 26 years old, from Crowley) saw the police car and immediately fled northbound on IH35W in excess of 100 mph.

Officers pursued Berry for over an hour, spanning 70 miles, with the pursuit going through Burleson, rural Johnson County, rural Tarrant County, Mansfield, Grand Prairie, Midlothian, rural Ellis County, Waxahachie and into a subdivision just north east of the City of Maypearl. Multiple times, officers from various agencies attempted, unsuccessfully, to deploy stop sticks (tire deflation devices).

Just outside of Maypearl, the suspect turned into a cul-de-sac and then circled towards the back of a residence, driving through their yard.

One APD unit stayed behind the suspect while the other stopped in the driveway of the residence. The suspect vehicle circled the residence and emerged from the opposite side of the home, just ahead of the officer’s car in the driveway.

The suspect immediately accelerated towards the patrol car, ramming it head on. The officer fired three rounds at the suspect’s vehicle, striking the driver’s area of the vehicle.

The suspect then continued to flee at which time officers were able to spin the suspect’s vehicle, bringing it to a stop against a metal pipe fence. The suspect vehicle stopped briefly and then the suspect put his vehicle in reverse and began trying to accelerate at high speed backwards. Another APD unit pulled in behind the suspect using his vehicle to block the escape.

The suspect continued to accelerate in reverse until officers were able to breach the passenger side door. They then observed a passenger also in the vehicle. Both occupants were initially taken into custody but the passenger (27-year-old female) was interviewed and released.

The driver was flown to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth for a gunshot wound to his lower body. He is listed in unknown condition at this time and is in police custody. He is facing numerous charges including aggravated assault on a public servant and evading arrest. The passenger has not been charged.

Due to an officer involved shooting occurring; the Texas Rangers were requested to help in that part of the investigation.