A military-style tractor trailer decked out in camouflage led Texas police on a wild, 75-minute chase that was caught on camera after its driver allegedly fled the scene of a crash Sunday night.
The truck smashed into at least 10 other vehicles during the crazy chase, and police said the driver attempted to ram several law enforcement vehicles before he was apprehended by SWAT officers and taken into custody.
The large camo-colored truck was spewing sparks and smoke from popped tires when a bystander filmed the driver speeding by with police officers in hot pursuit, dramatic footage obtained by KHOU shows.
The chase began around 10 p.m. when an off-duty police deputy witnessed the truck hit another vehicle and then speed off, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
Police quickly identified the conspicuous truck, described as a military-style tractor trailer with no license plates.
That deputy called for assistance, and within minutes, sheriff’s deputies located the suspected truck and attempted to pull the driver over, but he refused to stop and led cops on a 75-minute chase.
The driver, identified as 53-year-old Omar Moreno, tore through parts of Harris County and Houston as police deployed multiple spike strips in an attempt to stop the vehicle. At one point, the truck briefly stopped, and a deputy fired a single round at it, Click2Houston reported.
Despite visible damage to the truck, Moreno allegedly kept going until he came to a stop on the Eastex Freeway near Little York.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team responded and arrested Moreno after using tear gas.
“We did deploy gas, which was effective. We do have the suspect in custody. He’s a 53-year-old Hispanic male,” Chief Deputy Tommy Diaz told reporters.
“He was not struck by gunfire, nor was he injured. There’s no further danger to the community,” Diaz said.
Investigators are still working to learn more about where the vehicle came from, why it had no license plates, and what caused the initial hit and run.
Moreno is charged with three counts of aggravated assault and one count of evading arrest.
No officers or civilians were injured, according to police reports.
