Man arrested for driving at police & leading them on chase with children inside vehicle

A Garland man is in custody after nearly running over two officers who shot at him, then leading police on a chase with two young children inside his vehicle.

30-year-old Thomas Irwin is charged with aggravated assault against a public servant, endangering a child, evading arrest and driving while intoxicated. Irwin was shot twice and is currently in the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The children were not injured.

Police say it started near West Miller and Saturn Road Friday night, around 6:30. Two officers were sitting in traffic when a white SUV, driven by Irwin, crashed into a cemetery behind them. When the officers went to go check it out, they say Irwin started driving towards them. That’s when officers started firing at the SUV.

Irwin led police on a short chase that ended a mile away at a business on the 2600 block of South Garland Ave. where police arrested him and discovered the kids.

“The officers are OK, and what we also found out in this point in time as well is there were two children in the car, one age 11 and one age 4.” said Garland Police Lt. Pedro Barineau. “The investigators are going to be speaking with the children, as well as the family of the children.”

Irwin has been arrested before for two DWIs, theft, cocaine possession and resisting arrest. Police believe he was under the influence of drugs during this latest incident.

At this point, police have not said what the relationship is between Irwin and the children in the SUV, but we do know he is not their father.

Both officers involved have been placed on administrative leave, per department policy.