FAYETTE AND COLORADO COUNTY VEHICLE PURSUIT
An hour-long pursuit that began in Flatonia and involved numerous Fayette and Colorado county agencies ended in Weimar with the suspect being shot.
The suspect has been identified as forty-year old Aaron Girardof Schulenburg, according to DPS spokesman Tom Vinger.
The incident began on Monday, Dec. 22 at about 8:30 p.m. when DPS attempted to stop a vehicle in Flatonia, according to Lt. David Beyer of the Fayette County Sheriff's Office.
According to Vinger, the Department of Public Safety troopers were Patrick Mladenka and Jesse Ross.
Assistance was requested from Flatonia Police Officer Elizabeth Krieg, who joined in the pursuit, according to Flatonia Police Chief Mike Noak.
The suspect, who was driving an older model small passenger car, got on Interstate 10 and headed east, but changed his direction of travel numerous times, according to Lt. Beyer.
Lt. Beyer said that four deputies – Randy Thumann, Kenn Kretz, Mark Zimmerman and Daitwan Walker – assisted in the pursuit.
In Schulenburg, Police Officer Joshua Lumsford set up to deploy spikes at the exit ramp because law enforcement anticipated the suspect might exit there, but the suspect continued on interstate, according to Schulenburg Police Chief Troy Brenek.
According to the statement from Vinger, the suspect proceeded eastbound into Colorado County, where tires were spiked by law enforcement.
Weimar Police Chief Bill Livingston said that the vehicle, which was eastbound on Interstate 10, ran over spikes deployed by Weimar Police Officer Paul Hilley at the College Street overpass, approximately 100 yards west of the Weimar exit. The vehicle then continued to the exit. This occurred at about 9:30 p.m., according to Livingston.
Preliminary investigation indicates the DPS troopers exited their vehicle as the suspect vehicle slowed. According to the statement from Vinger, “The suspect then turned his vehicle westbound on the eastbound lanes of I-10 and proceeded toward law enforcement personnel, endangering officers, ramming a DPS patrol car and another police vehicle. During the incident, DPS troopers and a Fayette County sheriff's deputy fired at the suspect, who was wounded.”
Officer Krieg's patrol car was struck at Weimar, according to Chief Noak. She was in the vehicle but was not injured, he said.
Chief Livingston said that Colorado County Medic 5 transported Girard to Columbus Community Hospital. The Weimar Volunteer Fire Department had been dispatched to set up a landing zone for a medical helicopter, but it was cancelled due to weather.
Girard was later transported to Brackenridge Hospital in Austin, where he remained hospitalized as of Monday morning, Dec. 29, according to Vinger.
As a result of the incident, Interstate 10 eastbound was shut down for about five hours. The eastbound lanes were opened to traffic at about 3 a.m., according to Andrew Carlson, Texas Dept. of Transportation spokesman.
“Interstate 10 was a crime scene that needed to be worked,” Chief Livingston said.
Among those assisting in the investigation were Fayette County Sheriff's Office personnel Sgt. Ron Naumann, Lt. Beyer and Chief Deputy Randy Noviskie.
Several Weimar police officers also assisted at the scene.
The Schulenburg Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched for traffic control at Interstate 10 and Highway 90 east of Schulenburg. According to Fire Chief Dennis Lebeda, SVFD sent three trucks and seven firefighters to direct traffic off Interstate 10 eastbound onto Highway 90. SVFD remained on scene until about 11 p.m. when TxDOT assumed traffic control. Fayette County deputies also assisted.
The case remains under investigation. According to Lt. Beyer, Ranger Brent Barina is heading the investigation since the pursuit originated in Fayette County.
According to Vinger, evading law enforcement in a vehicle is a felony offense. On Monday, Dec. 29, Vinger said that charges are pending.
Story Courtesy of Diane Prause with the Schulenberg Sticker and Flatonia Argus