| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Members of Atascosa County law enforcement agencies |
|
|
demonstrated tremendous courage in the line of duty on June 2, 2022, |
|
|
when they risked their lives to stop an escaped prisoner and |
|
|
suspected murderer from fleeing the country; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The suspect was accused of killing a family of five |
|
|
in Centerville after he escaped from a prison transport bus on |
|
|
May 12; when Atascosa County Sheriff David Soward received word |
|
|
that the suspect could be headed to the area in an apparent attempt |
|
|
to reach the U.S.-Mexico border, he quickly mobilized his deputies |
|
|
for a large-scale manhunt, which involved constables and officers |
|
|
from the Pleasanton, Jourdanton, Poteet, and Lytle Police |
|
|
Departments, as well as DPS troopers and U.S. Marshals; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Officers from these various agencies were posted at |
|
|
all highways and major roads headed south, and just before 10 p.m., |
|
|
Atascosa County Animal Control chief Henry Dominguez reported that |
|
|
he and a deputy sheriff had sighted the suspect, who was driving a |
|
|
stolen pickup truck and was armed with an AR-15-style rifle and a |
|
|
pistol; Officer Dominguez was instructed to follow the suspect, |
|
|
while other personnel drove ahead of the fleeing suspect to |
|
|
intercept him and deployed spikes in his path to puncture the |
|
|
vehicle's tires; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Before reaching the edge of Jourdanton, Jourdanton |
|
|
Police Chief Eric Kaiser successfully spiked all four of the |
|
|
vehicle's tires as the suspect attempted to evade law enforcement |
|
|
by driving into a field; the suspect fired his rifle at oncoming |
|
|
deputies before losing control of his vehicle and crashing into a |
|
|
utility pole and then a fence; after exiting the vehicle with a |
|
|
rifle in hand, the suspect was shot and killed, bringing his 22-day |
|
|
crime spree to an end; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The exceptional bravery displayed by the Atascosa |
|
|
County law enforcement officers was met with an outpouring of |
|
|
gratitude from the community, and Sheriff Soward awarded |
|
|
commendations to 14 officers; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The members of the Atascosa County law enforcement |
|
|
agencies went to heroic lengths to protect their community and |
|
|
prevent further violence, and in so doing, they exemplified the |
|
|
highest ideals of their profession; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature |
|
|
hereby commend the officers in Atascosa County for their role in |
|
|
stopping an escaped convict and suspected murderer and extend to |
|
|
them sincere appreciation for their dedicated service; and, be it |
|
|
further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for the law enforcement units across Atascosa County as an |
|
|
expression of high regard by the Texas Senate. |