Leander Man Takes Squad Car, then Shot by Troopers 
Oct 5, 2000 

A 39 year old Leander man faces attempted 
capital murder charges this morning. 

Police pulled over Donald Andrew Pearson 
around 9 O'clock last night. Authorities say he 
got out of his car and threatened police 
officers, DPS Troopers, and himself. The chase 
started on FM  1431 in Cedar Park and ended                           
 just east of  Parmer Lane.         

This morning 
Pearson is in stable condition at Brackenridge 
hospital. He suffers from 3 gun shot wounds 
to the legs. 

To really understand what happened we need 
to take you back to about 9 O'clock last night. 

That's when police pulled over Pearson for 
suspicion of drunk driving. 

When he got out of his suburban he 
threatened to harm himself with a knife and a 
hatchet. Police then backed away and Pearson 
took off in a Cedar Park squad car. 

As he sped off he allegedly tried to run over 
officers. 

A DPS spokesman says the officers did what 
was necessary to end the high speed chase. 

"The average person and the average officer 
cannot successfully respond to a suspect with
a knife with a holstered weapon if the suspect 
is closer than 21 feet. You have those things 
going on in your mind and I know that the 
officers in Cedar Park were thinking we need  
to diffuse this situation," said Gary Parker, 
Sr. Trooper D.P.S. 

DPS Troopers were able to deploy stingers 
which blew out two of the tires on the stolen 
police car. Pearson drove about five miles
before stopping near County Road 272, just 
east of Parmer Lane where he got out of  the 
squad car and he threatened the troopers with 
a knife. 

The Troopers fired three shots and hit him in 
the lower part of the legs. Pearson was taken 
to Brackenridge Hospital and is listed in stable
condition. 

He faces several charges including attempted 
capital murder of an officer. 

(posted Thursday, October 5, 2000 @ 8:10 a.m.) 

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