Austin High-Tech News 
Metro & State 

Official: Man in police chase seemed suicidal

By Monica Polanco 
American-Statesman Staff 
Friday, October 6, 2000

CEDAR PARK-- Donald Pearson held a knife 
to his throat and a hatchet in his other hand to 
keep officers away, police said, then ran to an 
empty police car and sped off.

A few minutes later, a state trooper shot 
Pearson three times, injuring him and ending
a 30-minute chase Wednesday night, authorities 
said.

"I think what we have here is a suicide by cop 
case," Cedar Park Police Chief Henry Fluck
said. "I think his intent was to have the police
officer shoot and kill him." 

Pearson, 39, of Lago Vista was in stable 
condition Thursday night at Brackenridge 
Hospital. Investigators expect to file charges 
this week. Pearson's relatives couldn't be 
reached for comment.

Pearson was first stopped about 9 p.m. after a
motorist called Cedar Park police to report a 
possibly intoxicated driver approaching U.S. 
183 on RM 1431, Fluck said. 

Officers matched the vehicle's description
with Pearson's Chevrolet Suburban and stopped
him at a convenience store on U.S. 183 at
New Hope Drive, Fluck said. He got out of the
vehicle and was asked to put his hands on the car. 

"The guy pulls out a knife and says something
like, 'Go ahead, kill me,' " Fluck said. 

Pearson got back in the vehicle and drove to 
Leander on RM 2243, then back toward Cedar 
Park on RM 1431. He was swerving and 
driving on both sides of the road at about 60 
mph, Fluck said. 

Officers tried to stop Pearson a second line 
by placing spikes on the road in front of the 
Cedar Park Police Department on RM 1431. 
But Pearson continued east on RM 1431 with 
all four tires blown out. He crossed into 
oncoming traffic and hit another car, slightly
injuring the driver, Fluck said. Pearson then 
drove into a parking lot on RM 1431, ran over
a mailbox and stopped, he said.

Pearson got cut of the vehicle and 
approached an officer with a knife and
hatchet, Fluck said. 

Sheriffs deputies, state troopers and Leander 
police officers yelled for Pearson to drop his
weapons, the chief said. But Pearson jumped 
into an empty police car and drove away with 
the emergency lights flashing, Fluck said. 

Officers shot out two tires on the police car
and followed Pearson east on RM 1431 for 
about five miles, police said, until he lost
control and came to a stop near Parmer Lane.

Pearson got out of the car and approached a
trooper with a combat-style knife in his hand, 
Fluck said. The trooper fired hitting Pearson 
in both legs. 

Pearson convictions in Williamson County 
include illegally carrying a weapon, criminal 
mischief and burglarizing a coin-operated 
machine, according to court records. 


You may contact Monica Polanco at
mpolanco@statesman.com or 246-0043.

http://www.austin360.com/statesman/editions/today/metro_state_9.html

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