Garland police chase ends in crash that kills innocent bystander
ROWLETT - A police chase that began early Monday morning in Garland ended in a fatal crash at Rowlett and Miller roads in Rowlett.
The incident began when police in Garland were called to the scene of a domestic disturbance involving a man throwing bottles at about 4:30 a.m. outside a residence in the 1700 block of Cumberland Drive in Garland. Police said the home was the residence of the 23-year-old suspects ex-girlfriend, who he allegedly threatened to kill.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found the suspect slumped over in a green car, spurring police to break the driver’s side window. The man woke up, speeding off in the car and dragging the officer who broke the window about 15 feet. The officer received a deep gash to his arm during the incident.
A short police chase ensued, with the suspect crashing his vehicle into a small pickup truck on northbound Rowlett at Miller roads.
Story and Video Here:
Garland police chase ends in crash that kills innocent bystander
This happened only a short distance from my home.
Rowlett Fire Dept (Station 1) and the Garland Fire Dept responded to this accident. Sadly, there was nothing they could do for the Garland man in the pick-up.
“From what we can see on the video, our suspect was traveling at a high rate of speed,” said “It looks like our victim was entering the intersection on a green light at probably a normal rate of speed.”
The driver of the truck, a 52-year-old Garland man, was killed instantly.
Police pulled the suspect from his vehicle, which caught fire, and transported him to Baylor Hospital in critical condition.
The suspect served jail time for assault charges involving his ex-girlfriend in March, police said. Authorities said he is now charged with a terroristic threat, aggravated assault on a police officer and intoxicated manslaughter and evading arrest. Police have not released his name.
Garland police said the suspect threatening to kill his ex-girlfriend justified them giving chase.
An area where the crash happened was shut down for about seven hours as crews worked to investigate and clean up the scene.
One thing I am not clear on at this time is just WHO is going to file WHAT charges against this guy that ran and caused the crash.
Most of the actions bringing charges occurred in Garland, and I have to assume that this is where the charges will be filed, or so I am told. One of my sources told me that Garland P.D. requested to work the accident even though it happened in Rowlett, but stemmed from their chase.
I suppose the Police Haters that have sprung up trolling my site of late will find fault with the Garland P.D. for their part in this, I mean, just because the guy was a confirmed law breaker, had assaulted an Officer and fled, how dare these Officers chase him? Right?
By the way, rumor has it that ALL of the Police Officers involved were in normal uniform too, they didn’t have to break out the tactical gear, but after seeing the video, it appears that responding firefighters were in *Bunker Gear*. I just wanted to clear that up for the Police Haters that are now following my blog.
I want to extend my most sincere condolences to the family of Solomon Asfaw of Garland. I am sure that JUSTICE will be served for the death of your loved one.
EDIT TO ADD: The *suspect* is 24-year-old Jesus Gutierrez Eliasar. SOURCE
In Fornicalia, the jurisdiction of occurrence possesses investigatory powers, unless the agency formally requests CHP’s MAIT (Major Accident Investigation Team) squad.
Those requests ONLY involve fatalities.
A third party fatality is the worst of the worst. And it is from third party involvement — injuries or fatalities — that negative pursuit legislation stems.
I can only hope that your state presses charges against the ORIGINATOR of the situation that resulted. The cops didn’t start the issue; the SUSPECT did.
This is a battle that I fought and fight with EVOC, and fight with state legislators every year. The result, in my state, was SB 719.
BZ
Regarding jurisdiction, I have spoken with some local officers and it’s a 50/50 mix on the investigation…
In some areas here in Texas and in Louisiana that I am aware of, they bring in Troopers any time there is an Officer involved wreck, whether the officer crashes or is involved in a chase simply to avoid claims of Departmental favoritism, apparently, it’s not a blanket rule, because some don’t…
I would have thought that Rowlett would have been the investigating jurisdiction if for no other reason than to remove any doubt, but also done in conjunction WITH the Texas DPS… Texas DPS is the ultimate authority in matters like this in MY opinion..
The Garland PD, dependent on their Policy & Procedures, can work the accident but since the accident occurred in Rowlett I would think they too would work the accident better yet do it jointly.
As far as haters, they can sit on the side line and pass judgement, but not one has the intestinal fortitude to pin on a badge and walk the walk. Why? Because they are GUTLESS COWARDS; they can talk a good game but strap on a weapon and do the job…… Nope, NO BALLS , they don’t have the brains to make a decision that an officer must make in a micro second, to shoot or not shoot … sorry … your time is up YOU’RE DEAD!
It’s pathetic to read the comments, but again, what can you expect from a coward.
I just talked to another of my local friends and he feels like I do, DPS should have been called in regardless…
Officer involved chase and the chasing Dept doing the accident investigation in another cities jurisdiction … bringing in DPS would just remove ALL attempts by some cretins that WILL surely cry over this… I am all for total CYA…
Texas DPS will send the Texas Ranger for that area, and assist in decisions and forensics.
When you find out who this critically injured suspect is, who 100% caused all this, please post this information.
May the LORD comfort the innocent victim Solomon Asfaw, and his remaining family.
The *suspect* is 24-year-old Jesus Gutierrez Eliasar. SOURCE
I just found that the killer driver is named JESUS GUTIERREZ ELIASAR.
He was just released from jail.
I wonder because of his name and age, IF HE was checked by the jail and arresting officer to be a US Citizen, or, AHEM, an illegal alien??
This info, and if the perp had any car insurance?
If he is an illegal alien, and was released from jail, and then caused this death of Mr. Asfaw, well there will be a huge lawsuit.
That SOB killed an innocent man. It’s too bad police got there in time to pull him from the burning vehicle.
The facts are out now. The mexican driver who caused this has an extensive criminal record and WAS NOT DEPORTED!!
WHY????
Deported earlier equals no drunk wreck, no death of an innocent working man with a family.
Shame on Obama, Dallas PD, and anyone else who knew he was an illegal alien, and did nothing about it!!!
This death is also caused by this inaction.
I haven’t seen ANY proof that he was an ILLEGAL… Do you have that link? I would seriously appreciate you posting it if you do because so far, I haven’t found it… But if I do, I WILL post it… Thanks Mr. Chuck, you’re as pissed off on this one as I am!!
The son says he forgives the man who killed his father and hopes he has a happy life. That son is a better man than I am. If some criminal killed one of family members while running from the cops, I would have an intense hatred towards him.
I saw that last night, I was shaking my head and wondering WTF this kid was thinking..
His father not dead a day yet and fuzz-nuts forgives the killer and wishes him well in life?? Was that some kind of joke? Is the kid THAT forgiving? Damn, I have NEVER seen such…
Maybe it was a *15 minutes of fame* moment…
Well, I’m sorry Rowlett lost an innocent citizen and give my condolences to the family and community. I am with BobF, too bad the police got there in time to pull the scum sucker out of the burning wreckage.