HOUSTON – A suspect was shot by a Hitchcock police officer after a lengthy chase from Galveston County to Houston’s Heights area early Sunday, authorities said.
Hitchcock PD Police Chief Wilmon Smith said an officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a Dodge Charger Hemi for reckless driving at Highway 6 near FM 2004 at around 1 a.m.
The driver, who HPD identified as Dannyhau Nguyen, 32, refused to comply. He then turned to FM 2004, and entered I-45 northbound toward Houston, traveling at a high rate of speed.
The responding officer then called for backup, with multiple agencies, including deputies from Harris County Constable Pct. 2 and Pct. 8 assisted in the pursuit.
Smith said there were multiple stops along the way, but Nguyen continued northbound in a reckless manner on I-45 near I-10.
BREAKING: Hitchcock police officer hit after 50 mile chase. Police say the officer shot the suspect after he stopped in the Heights @KPRC2
— Rilwan Balogun (@KPRC2Rilwan) August 7, 2022
Conditions of officer and suspect not known.
Wrecker towing the suspect vehicle. pic.twitter.com/9XCQgk9hwg
Sometime later, as they approached I-10 near North Shepherd, one of the Hitchcock PD officers, Officer Sanford, was able to stop Nguyen in front of his vehicle.
That was when, Smith said, the suspect took off and allegedly struck Sanford with his vehicle. Sanford took out his gun and shot Nguyen in the arm. He was struck one time.
Smith said Nguyen attempted to flee once more but officers were able to take him into custody.
Both Nguyen and Officer Sanford were taken to area hospitals. Sanford suffered a hip and back injury and is expected to survive.
According to Hitchcock PD, Nguyen was wanted out of Harris County for aggravated assault-family violence with a deadly weapon.
Nguyen is facing charges for felony evading by the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office, according to HPD.
The Houston Police Department Special Investigations Unit is the lead in the investigation.