“Together, WSPD and our community, we stand strong,” read a message from the department. “We are very grateful,” added chef Chris Cook.
WHITE SETTLEMENT, Texas – A Good Samaritan assisted a White Settlement police officer in a pursuit to capture a suspect wanted in connection with a vehicle theft over the weekend.
The whole incident was caught on the officer’s body camera.
The White Settlement Police Department uses its “herd security system” to help recover fugitives and stolen vehicles throughout the community.
The system is a license plate reader with a camera, and on Saturday June 18, two officers responded to a report of a stolen vehicle spotted in the 700 block of South Cherry Lane.
“The license plate turned out to be a stolen vehicle,” White Settlement leader Chris Cook said.
As officers attempted to intercept the vehicle near an auto shop, the suspect jumped off on foot and began fleeing the scene.
A Good Samaritan saw one of the officers, Corporal J. Porter, running and offered to drive him.
Another department cop, Officer Samuel Brown, was also involved in the foot chase and was ahead of Porter – in pursuit of the suspect.
“It’s hot outside, they’re carrying heavy gear and sometimes some of us have better cardio than others. I’m in that camp too. Probably would have needed a round sooner than Corporal” , said Chef Cook.
“I appreciate it,” Corp said. Porter through footage from his body camera as he gave the Good Samaritan directions to where the suspect had been spotted.
Porter then quickly caught up to where the suspect was being held by Brown.
“I had to take a cab, don’t mind me,” Porter joked as he watched the suspect’s arrest.
Constable Brown said on Monday he laughed when he saw his colleague get out of a citizen’s vehicle.
“I’m looking over my shoulder, trying to see who’s coming at me, and then I see Porter jump out of the car. It was pretty funny,” Brown said.
The White Settlement Police Department sent a big thank you to the good Samaritan in a post with video of the chase on its Facebook page Sunday night.
“Together, WSPD and our community, we stand strong,” read a message from the department. The department also thanked the officers who were able to get the suspect off the streets.
The Samaritan, Jimmy Davis, spoke to the media on Monday, saying he saw the chase and decided to help the officer.
Davis is a former security guard.
“My instincts kicked in,” Davis said. “I was happy to be in the right place at the right time. I did what I had to do and I would do it again.”
The suspect, Joshua Taylor Brown, 31, has been charged with three felonies and one misdemeanor, including evading arrest and unauthorized use of a vehicle.
The WSPD said the stolen vehicle was returned to its rightful owner.
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