SAPD: Man tries to flee police using motel room attic

Man arrested; officer injured during rafters chase

SAN ANTONIO – Four people were arrested Monday after San Antonio police found a stolen pickup truck at the Garden Inn Motel on the city’s Southwest Side.

Officers went to great lengths to make the arrests. One officer was injured after he climbed into the attic of a motel room to look for a man.

Sgt. Bobby Bradley said police were notified before 7 a.m. that there was a pickup in the parking lot of the motel in the 3500 block of Southwest Military that did not belong there.

"The vehicle was stolen out of Wilson County. The complainant had a tracker on it,” Bradley said.  "When the officer got to the location, the suspect came out of the room that the truck was parked in front of and fled the officers."

Bradley said police ran after the man, who put up a fight. Officers had to use their Tasers on the man in order to take him into custody, Bradley said.

Inside the same motel room, officers found two women who were in possession of what was believed to be a small amount of heroin, Bradley said. But police soon realized that a fourth person made a run for the rafters.

“Another male subject had climbed into the attic space,” Bradley said. “That subject had kicked through several firewalls before coming down and trying to flee. He was also taken into custody."

Bradley said police found the man after he emerged from a different motel room. They believe that once he climbed into the attic in the original room, he was able to tunnel his way into another room about two doors down. Bradley said officers also used a Taser on the man. Both men were checked out at the scene by paramedics.

An officer involved in the arrests had to be taken to a hospital. Bradley said the officer, who had climbed into the attic after the man, sprained his ankle on the way down.

Police also found a stolen SUV at another nearby location that they believe is tied to the group.

The four people arrested face a variety of charges including vehicle theft, possession of a controlled substance and evading arrest. Police said one of the men is also being questioned in connection with an unrelated robbery.


About the Author:

Katrina Webber joined KSAT 12 in December 2009. She reports for Good Morning San Antonio. Katrina was born and raised in Queens, NY, but after living in Gulf Coast states for the past decade, she feels right at home in Texas. It's not unusual to find her singing karaoke or leading a song with her church choir when she's not on-air.