HOUSTON – Two men who led police on a high-speed chase around the north Houston area Friday morning were taken into custody, one in part due to the help of a good Samaritan.
WATCH VIDEO FROM WOULD-BE CARJACKING VICTIM
Police said the pursuit began after a reported robbery by two armed men at the Amegy Bank at 5301 Bissonnet Street in Bellaire. A person hiding under a desk called Bellaire police with a vehicle description of a black Mercedes Benz, which was relayed to the Houston Police Department.
HPD officers located the vehicle on Main Street, then pursued the Mercedes on I-45 North Freeway north. The driver, identified as Christopher Bishop, then did a U-turn on the feeder road and drove south on I-45.
VIDEO: Police chase suspects fly past on highway
The Mercedes then went east on the 610 North Loop and exited South Shepherd. The car was driving on its front left rim as several police vehicles pursued it.
The car hit at least three other vehicles during the chase.
The men also threw two bank bags out of the vehicle, according to the FBI.
Bishop got back on the North Loop, then took I-45 north and exited the freeway.
Both the driver and passenger, identified as Travis Drain, got out of the smoking vehicle in the 6500 block of Enid Street.
VIDEO: Would-be carjacking victim captures chase suspect's arrest
That's when Bishop tried to carjack Carlos Mora and his son, Jose.
They were trying to stay out of harm's way, but were caught right in the middle of the trouble.
Jose Mora said they heard about the chase and pulled over to avoid it.
"I had gotten down to take a video because they were supposed to pass just by," Mora said.
But the two ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time.
PHOTOS: Wild chase ends in north Houston
Carlos Mora, who is handicapped, was sitting in the driver's seat, police said. As Bishop tried to open the driver's door, Jose Mora confronted Bishop and pushed him, according to the police.
"Well, the car was coming towards us. I thought it was going to crash, but it ended up stopping right next to us, trying to take my dad’s car. That's when I just reacted and tried to stop him," Jose Mora said.
Sky 2 video shows Jose Mora protecting his father sitting inside the car.
Jose Mora tried to tackle Bishop, who actually takes a swing at him, all before police take Bishop down.
"It was clear that these individuals did not care about the safety and well-being of the public," Capt. Larry Satterwhite said.
VIDEO: Police speak on chase after bank robbery
Carlos Mora is calling his son a hero, saying he did what he had to do to defend him.
But Jose Mora said he was just protecting the man he loves.
"My world, that's my dad. That's it. The only person that actually understands me," Jose Mora said.
Drain ran away from the vehicle, but was apprehended by officers in the backyard of a nearby residence.
Bishop, 34, and Drain, 30, are charged with one count of bank robbery. Both men are from the Memphis, Tennessee, area.
Officers recovered a bag with cash from Amegy Bank from inside the Mercedes, according to the FBI.
Police said they may be connected to other bank robberies.