09/11/15 Smith County, TX – Felony Chase – Stop Sticks – Run – Car Jacks – Gun Point – Chase – Crash – Breaks Window Of Smith Co. Sheriff’s Tahoe – Steals It – Chase – Crash – After Shots Fired – Steals Pick Up – Escaped

September 11, 2015

tylerpaper.com

The search for an armed and dangerous fugitive who carjacked a Tyler motorist and stole a Smith County Sheriff’s patrol unit remained active Friday afternoon as multiple local, state and federal agencies sought the man.

Smith County Sheriff’s Lt. Gary Middleton said it all began about 10:30 p.m. Thursday when deputies attempted to stop 29-year-old, Jeffrey Eugene Brooks of Palestine, who was wanted out of Wood County on a felony aggravated assault warrant. Brooks was said to be driving a late model Cadillac Escalade.

Middleton said Brooks led deputies on a high speed chase into Tyler, where Tyler police deployed tire spikes, causing damage to the Escalade, but he continued into Tyler onto West Gentry Parkway.

Tyler Police Spokesman Don Martin said Brooks drove until he ditched the Escalade and carjacked a man stopped at a stop sign.

“He walked up to the driver’s window while the motorist was stopped at a stop sign at Grand Avenue and West Gentry and ordered the man out of the vehicle at gunpoint,” Martin said.

Middleton said Brooks then drove that vehicle until he wrecked on Gentry Parkway near the Superior Pawn shop.

Middleton said Brooks then ran and was able to evade arrest once again.

“One of our deputies was on foot searching for him, and Brooks came back around, broke the window out of his patrol unit and stole it. We got into a pursuit on County Road 431, where he wrecked out the patrol unit. We searched for him here, but he has fled the area,” he said.

Middleton said before Brooks wrecked the sheriff’s Chevrolet Tahoe, officers from the Mineola Police Department fired several rounds at Brooks.

“My understanding is the officers pulled up when they saw the Tahoe, and as they approached the vehicle, he raised a gun at them and they fired several rounds at him before he sped away again,” he said.

After wrecking the Tahoe on County Road 431, Brooks then stole a late model Chevrolet pickup and led authorities on another chase in northern Smith County before he lost the officers.

About 8 a.m. authorities got a break when OnStar representatives were able to locate the stolen pickup behind the former Bootleggers Club on Texas Highway 155 south of Grande Boulevard.

Tyler police, Smith County Sheriff’s deputies, Smith County Fire marshals, federal agents and constables all swarmed the area searching for Brooks, but he was not located.

The pickup was found parked near the backdoor of the building out of sight, and officers processing the vehicle found items believed to have been stolen from Harvey Convention Center sometime during the night.

Martin would not confirm any additional information about any crimes in Tyler.

“Since there are so many agencies involved, we will only talk about the carjacking at this time,” Martin said.

U.S. Marshals and other agencies went to multiple places in Palestine, where Brooks lives, but did not find the man.

According to Wood County Judicial records, Brooks has been indicted recently on multiple felony charges, including habitual evading arrest in a vehicle and possession of a controlled substance.

He also is wanted on a parole violation out of Georgia for a 2010 conviction of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Middleton said Brooks is to be considered armed and dangerous and anyone encountering Brooks should not approach him.

“There are multiple agencies looking for this individual. We ask anyone with any information about his whereabouts to contact their local law enforcement agency,” Middleton said.