A Harris County, Texas man is facing felony charges after deputies say he was street racing while intoxicated with a three-year-old child asleep in the back seat of his car, then led law enforcement on a chase spanning more than a mile.
Deputies from Harris County Constable Precinct 5 were clearing an unrelated scene when they heard engines revving nearby. Near the 13500 block of Westheimer Road at Windchase Boulevard, they spotted a black BMW racing alongside a white Mustang.
Deputies began following the BMW, which came to a stop at a red light but well past the marked stop line, extending into the intersection. When deputies attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the driver allegedly refused to pull over and fled, leading officers on a pursuit of approximately 1.5 miles.
During the chase, the driver allegedly weaved in and out of traffic, endangering other motorists while violating multiple traffic laws. The pursuit ended in the 2900 block of South Dairy Ashford, where deputies conducted a high-risk vehicle stop to bring the suspect into custody.
Once the vehicle was secured, deputies found several open beer containers on the back seat floorboard. They also discovered a three-year-old girl in the back seat, who deputies believe may be the driver’s daughter, though that relationship has not been officially confirmed.
The 36-year-old driver reportedly displayed multiple signs of intoxication and was arrested. He now faces charges of felony driving while intoxicated and felony evading arrest. If convicted on the DWI charge, he could face significant prison time, a penalty that may be compounded by the presence of a child in the vehicle during the alleged offense.
Photos released by Precinct 5 showed the BMW being towed away near a Burger King. The young girl was not injured and has since been placed in her mother’s custody. The driver also appeared to be uninjured following the incident.
The investigation remains ongoing.
