Police chase ends in shootout in Midlothian, suspect killed
MIDLOTHIAN, Texas - An early morning police chase ended with a crash and a shootout between the suspect and police.
Dalworthington Gardens police said they received a tip from the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney's Office on Wednesday, July 3 that a man was threatening another family and police. The suspect involved had an active warrant for family violence.
As a result, the home where the family lived was placed on what's called a "Close Patrol" on the residence off Sunset Oaks. Officers checked on the location multiple times per shift.
Officers were at the residence shortly before 2:30 a.m. when they saw the wanted person.
When officers tried to stop the suspect, he drove off.
Police say the suspect rammed two squad cars in Midlothian near an apartment complex on Ridgeway Drive near Highway 67 in Midlothian.
Shortly after the crash, police say the driver fired at officers, and officers returned fire.
The suspect was hit and taken to the hospital with critical injuries. Shortly after, the suspect died.
No officers were injured in the shooting.
Dalworthington Gardens, Midlothian and Pantego police were involved in the incident.
The Texas Rangers are conducting a criminal investigation.
Midlothian police tell FOX 4 they will be conducting an internal investigation into its officers' involvement.
FOX 4 asked criminologist Alex del Carmen about the decision to use "Close Patrol" in this case rather than try to execute a warrant.
"In this case, what probably happened was that the individual was in fact a fugitive, but the person was not exactly located, per se. And so, the best lead that the officers had was essential to ensure that they did what's called a target hardening, which means that they make the target so that criminals are very hard to penetrate by virtue of having the physical presence of law enforcement," he said. "In this particular case, although the death of any human being is a tragedy. I would argue that he was successful in the sense that no innocent bystanders and no law enforcement personnel was hurt."
The name of the suspect has not been released at this time.