One arrested after chase

A woman was arrested following a high speed, two-county chase Wednesday, Sept. 21.

According to reports, at approximately 12:10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, Jack County Sheriff’s Deputy Cole Peace received a call of a reckless driver in the 14000 block of State Highway 199 South, in Jacksboro. He initiated a traffic stop in the 9500 block of Hwy. 199.

After initiated the stop, Peace had the driver of the vehicle, Samantha Michelle Rodriguez, 32, exit the vehicle. While arresting her for driving while intoxicated with an open container, Peace performed a search of her vehicle.

Rodriguez,whowashandcuffed and in the rear of the deputy’s vehicle during the search, managed to escape and slip through a small plexiglass opening between the front and rear of the vehicle and drive off in the deputy’s vehicle.

Deputy Kirk Freeman assisted with the search and the two were preparing to move Rodriguez to Freeman’s vehicle to take her to the Jack County Sheriff’s Office for a breathalyzer test, when Peace said he heard his car be put into gear and drive away.

“Our guy (Peace) did everything right and by the book,” Jack County Judge Keith Umphress said.

Peace and Freeman got into Freeman’s vehicle and began pursuit through Jack County and into Archer County. Archer County Sheriff’s Office deputies were ready south of Windthorst and the driver rammed one of their vehicles.

Deputies began shooting, hitting the vehicle four times. The vehicle’s tires were spiked and Rodriguez drove through four fences and several fields before the driver was apprehended on Munchrath Road, outside of Windthorst.

Rodriguez told deputies she was on her way to Breckenridge to get her kids and “if she couldn’t have them, no one could.”

“We had an officer involved shooting last week,” Archer County Sheriff Jack Curd told the Archer County Commissioner’s Court on Monday, Sept. 26. “Nobody was injured. We did send that officer to go get blood and breath tests, which is just our normal procedure. The person that we were after is in the Jack County Jail and once she finishes her stuff there, she will be transferred to the Archer County Jail on multiple felony counts.”

No one was injured in the chase. Umphress said the JCSO vehicle was destroyed and the ACSO vehicle heavily damaged. The driver was taken to Faith Community Hospital for treatment and later transported to the Jack County Jail where she was magistrated late last week for a number charges from both counties, Umphress said.

Umphress said amends will be made to the landowners whose fences were damaged.

Rodriguez was charged with a number of offenses including unauthorized use of a vehicle, and evading arrest or detention with a vehicle, Umphress said.