SAPD: Suspects in motel robberies led police on chase that ended in fiery crash

Two officers suffered minor injuries

SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio police have two people in custody following reports of multiple robberies, a vehicle chase and a wrong-way crash with a police cruiser early Tuesday morning.

Zachary Kentish, 21, and Gabriela Ritchie, 22, are charged with three counts of aggravated robbery, evading arrest in a vehicle, possession of stolen firearm and assault on a peace officer.

The incident began around 3 a.m. when police received a call about a robbery at a Holiday Inn.

An officer in the area spotted a vehicle that matched the description of the getaway car and began the pursuit. That's when, police said, the driver led them in and out of a subdivision and went the wrong way on Vance Jackson Road a couple of times just before hitting a police car head-on on Vance Jackson just south of DeZavala.

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Kentish and Ritchie were taken into custody. The officer in the vehicle that was struck was checked out by paramedics at the scene.

Authorities said the suspects were not injured but the airbags in both vehicles deployed. The driver in the suspect car also hit another patrol vehicle before the one he hit head-on, according to authorities. Police said that during the chase he drove straight toward several vehicles including a VIA bus, but there were no serious injuries. 

Police believe the suspects also robbed Hotel San Antonio in the 4800 block of Woodstone Drive and a Comfort Inn at Utex Drive.

Ritchey, police said, recently got out of jail last Friday in connection with other robberies.

Both denied doing anything wrong when they were walked in front of KSAT's camera Tuesday morning.


About the Authors

Ben Spicer is a digital journalist who works the early morning shift for KSAT.

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.

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