MISSOURI CITY, Texas – Authorities are investigating a series of incidents that happened on Thursday night in Missouri City, including a deadly crash where an officer hit another vehicle with a mother and her 16-year-old son inside.
Missouri City Police Department said its dispatch received a 911 call at 8:42 p.m. from a victim about an active robbery at an ATM in the 1600 block of Cartwright Road.
Police said a man approached the victim while armed with a handgun and demanded money. The robbery suspect fled in a silver Honda passenger vehicle after stealing $200 from the victim. The robbery victim was following the suspect while on the phone with dispatch.
According to police, a Missouri City officer was responding to the robbery, traveling east in the 1600-1700 block of Cartwright Road.
At some point, a vehicle unrelated to the robbery was leaving a Dollar Tree parking lot on Cartwright near FM 2234 when the responding officer’s vehicle collided with their vehicle, police said.
Audio recordings from Missouri City Police Department’s police radios gives us an inside look at the moments after the crash.
Unknown Officer: “I just hit **unintelligible**.”
Unknown Officer: “We’re going to need a lot of EMS. The other vehicle is not good, and both passengers are injured in a heavily.”
Unknown Officer: “We’re on location. Also, be advised. One police car is on fire. We’re going into attack mode.”
Investigators said there was a mother and her teenage son inside the car who tragically died at the scene. The victims killed in the crash have been identified as Angela Steward, 53, and her son, Mason Steward. Police could not confirm who was driving the vehicle at the time of the crash.
The officer in the patrol vehicle was taken to a hospital in the Medical Center and later released.
More than two hours into the investigation, Missouri City PD Chief Brandon Harris said they found a man in the back of the officer’s patrol vehicle. He was taken to Ben Taub Hospital and was in surgery for non-life-threatening injuries. It is under investigation as to why he was in the officer’s backseat or if he was in custody.
When the chief was asked if the officer should have been responding to another scene with a person occupied in their backseat, he stated that part of their policy notes that an officer should not be responding while occupying a passenger.
The exact Missouri City Police Department policy on pursuits could not be located online. KPRC2′s Gage Goulding submitted a formal request for the policy.
However, he dug up some literature on the policy, which says: “... the officer is required to balance the need to apprehend immediately versus the potential danger to citizens via the pursuit. The policy authorizes and encourages officers to terminate a pursuit if it is deemed too dangerous...”
Chief Harris also said it is under investigation if the officer’s lights or sirens were turned on during the time of the crash.
The crash investigation will be conducted by The Texas Department of Public Safety. The Missouri City Police Department will conduct an internal investigation concerning Policy and Procedures.
KPRC 2 reporter T.J. Parker was at the scene Friday morning, speaking with distressed family members. One of the men he spoke with said that his wife and 16-year-old son were in the vehicle when the officer crashed into them.
Missouri City Manager Angel Jones and Mayor Robin Elackatt released the following joint statement:
“It is with heavy heart that we address you today regarding the tragic incident that occurred last night. This incident resulted in the loss of lives, and our deepest sympathies and condolences go out to the families and friends affected by this heartbreaking event.
Our officers are dedicated to protecting and serving our community, often placing themselves in harm’s way to ensure our safety. We extend our support to all of those impacted by this incident.
Let us come together as a community to support one another.”