Madisonville, TX - Burglar Suspect Doubles Back - Steals Madison Co. Deputy's Patrol Car - Tried To Run Over Deputy - 14 Shots Fired
KBTX.com June 12, 2009
Police Chief Gary Clendennen says around 4:15 a.m. Friday a resident noticed
a suspicious vehicle parked on the side of Godwins supermarket and called
police. When Madisonville police and sheriff deputies arrived on scene, six men
fled on foot.
Shery Aguilar lives across the street from the supermarket, where she happens to
be a store manager. She says she was awakened by gunfire and saw the commotion
happening outside her window.
Supermarket employee's usually arrive to work around 5 a.m. so when Aguilar
heard the gunshots, she says she feared the worse for the store's opening
manager.
"Knowing that something could have happened to him, even though seeing the
vehicle on the side of the building. Not knowing what was going on in the back,"
says Aguilar.
The six men ran in several directions from the back on the store. One suspect
ran across the street to Iron Mountain Medical Center. A sheriff deputy followed
him there in his patrol car.
"The deputy got out of his vehicle to pursue the suspect and at that time the
suspect double backed on him and got into the deputies vehicle. The suspect
tried to run over the deputy at that time he pulled his service revolver. I
believe there were fourteen shots fired out of a fifteen round clip" says
Madisonville Police Chief, Gary Clendennen.
The suspect managed to flee the scene in the stolen patrol car, but by 10
a.m., the stolen car was spotted in Corsicana. Officers arrested 20-year-old
Frank Charles Harvey, who is from the Dallas area.
Canines were called in to help track down the five men who fled the scene in
Madisonville. Dogs were able to get a scent from clothing the suspects took off
as they ran from officers. Crowbars and lock openers were also recovered and
will be used as evidence.
The canine search was called off late Friday morning but anyone who has
information is asked to call the Madison County Sheriff's Department at
936-348-2755.