Driver sought by Windcrest PD after ramming patrol car

Officer uninjured but car has extensive damage

SAN ANTONIO – Windrest police are searching for a driver who intentionally rammed an officer's patrol car with his truck during a traffic stop early Thursday morning.

Chief Al Ballew said the officer noticed the driver of the super-sized 4x4 pickup committing a traffic violation and speeding around 2 a.m., and attempted to stop it in the 600 block of Crestway.

He said the driver stopped at first, but then apparently had a change of heart.

"When the officer got out of the vehicle to approach the suspect vehicle, he put his vehicle in reverse and rammed the police car," Ballew said.

The officer was not hurt, but his car was left with extensive damage.

The officer then called for help and another officer pickup up the chase, following the suspect toward Takas Park a few blocks away.

The driver jumped a curb, but miscalculated and slammed into a drainage ditch, Ballew said.

He said from there, the man, who appeared to be in his 20s, bailed out of the wrecked vehicle and ran away.

"We did have (San Antonio police) assist us with a canine," Ballew said. "We searched but we were unable to locate the subject."

What police did find, though, could be the reason for the suspect's run: a truckload of evidence.

"We did recover property from other vehicle burglaries that occurred earlier in San Antonio," Ballew said.

Whenever police track down the driver, he, most likely, will face a long list of charges.


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.