A 27-year-old Dallas man allegedly assaulted the police officers who tried to stop him from shoplifting a basket full of alcoholic beverages. He lead officers on a vehicle pursuit through Sulphur Springs, through pastures and into the county, where he fled after crashing into a tree. The manhunt ended after the suspect got wet in a cold pond and was taken into custody Saturday. He now faces 11 charges, with bonds totaling $1,769,000.
The incident started with Sulphur Springs Police officers being dispatched at 4:47 p.m. Jan. 22, 2022, to a theft at a Gilmer Street grocery store. Upon arrival, officers were told the Dallas man had passed all points of sale with a cart full of alcoholic beverages without paying for any of it.
When police tried to contact the man in the parking lot, they reported he let go of the cart and ran for a vehicle. Officers pursued the man to the vehicle, where two approached the driver’s side and one the passenger’s side of the black SUV. The officer on the passenger’s side of the SUV was allegedly pushed from the parked vehicle, causing injury. Then, the man allegedly put the vehicle in drive and caused the two officers on the driver’s side to smash into a parked car, causing injury. Officers pursued the vehicle, SSPD Sgt. Brandon Mayes and Cpl. Chris Rosamond alleged in arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to assist police at the store, where they were told the man was resisting arrest. A SSPD officer soon, however, reported the suspect had fled in a black Lexus RX-350. The vehicle was reported to be traveling north on Oak Avenue toward the square. A deputy reported seeing the vehicle traveling east on Fleming Street toward Rosemont Street. Deputies attempted to catch up to the vehicle as it continued south on Rosemont Street, east on Houston Street and north onto Jackson Street, The vehicle then turned east onto Pipeline Road, a dead-end street, HCSO Deputies Aaron Chaney and Drew Fisher alleged in arrest reports.
As deputies approached the vehicle on Pipeline Road, the driver turned north into a pasture. The deputy followed the vehicle as it continued through a tree line. The deputy stopped when the SUV drove through a barbed wire fence. The deputy watched as the SUV continued east through another pasture, then continued toward the neighborhood at Rain Tree Circle and Loop 301, Chaney alleged in arrest reports.
SSPD, other HCSO, and highway patrol units checked the area but did not immediately spot the fleeing SUV. Deputies saw where the vehicle went through a homeowner’s wooden fence on Rain Tree Circle and continued to Loop 301, where tire marks showed the vehicle had headed south toward I-30.
A short time later, dispatchers advised they had gotten a reckless driver call about a vehicle that matched the one they had been pursuing; the SUV had almost struck the caller’s vehicle while exiting at FM 69. The caller stayed behind the SUV, calling in locations as the SUV continued. The caller soon reported the SUV was being driven at a high rate of speed on FM 69 north, making it hard to follow him, according to arrest reports.
Soon, Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Aaron Hanna advised he was at the intersection of FM 900 and FM 69. Although the trooper was able to spike the tires on the SUV, it continued traveling north on FM 69. Chaney reported continuing north on FM 69 and eventually spotted the SUV in the distance, where the driver soon lost control of the vehicle, and it crashed into a tree on the east side of the road.
The deputy reported the man driving was not deterred. He ran into a wooded area nearby as the deputy approached the vehicle. The deputy lost sight of the suspect. Deputy Drew Fisher stopped and deployed his partner, K-9 Axe. Deputies searched the wooded area but were unable to located the man. A perimeter search was launched, with a DPS helicopter was launched to search from the air.
A short time later, a landowner approached the officer, advising his son had seen a man running through their pasture. Deputies set up around the area. The suspect was reportedly located in a large pond on the property a short time later. After being in the cold water briefly, the man made his way to the bank and was taken into custody just before 7 p.m. Saturday.
The man was transported to jail and the vehicle was towed to the sheriff’s office for inventory. Additional stolen property was reportedly located in the vehicle, along with a firearm and drug paraphernalia, packages of ecstasy (MDMA) pills and baggies of suspected methamphetamine. The pills tested positive for MDMA and weighed 71.8 grams and the other substance tested positive as meth, and weighed 13.3 grams, deputies alleged in arrest reports. The man was found to be a convicted felon and not allowed to have a firearm.
Sulphur Springs Police charged 27-year-old Xzavier Antjuane Bolden of Dallas with theft of $764.81 worth of items from the store, but because he had two previous theft convictions, the charge was enhanced; as well as two counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer with a deadly weapon, one count of assault on a peace officer, and one count of evading arrest or detention in a vehicle. His bonds were set at $500,000 each on the two aggravated assault charges, $100,000 on the other assault charge, $15,000 on the theft charge and $100,000 on the evading arrest charge, according to jail reports.
HCSO deputies charged Bolden with evading arrest with a vehicle, two counts of possession of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and criminal mischief for the property damage. His bond was set at $150,000 each on the controlled substance charges, $100,000 on the evading arrest charge, $150,000 on the weapon charge and $2,000 on the criminal mischief charge, according to jail reports.
And, Bolden was also found to be wanted by Dallas County authorities on a disorderly conduct/displaying a firearm charge. Bond on the warrant was set at $2,000, jail records state.
KSSTRadio.com publishes Sulphur Springs Police Department reports and news. The Police Department is located at 125 Davis St., Sulphur Springs, Texas. Non-emergency calls can be made to (903) 885-7602.
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The Sulphur Springs Police Department continues to serve its citizens with pride in its overall mission and will strive to provide the best possible police force in the 21st century.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
