A high-speed chase that wound through Angelina, Nacogdoches, and Cherokee counties Sunday afternoon has garnered media attention worldwide.  The fact that the suspect threw chain saws at police during the chase is what seems to be the most captivating part of the story. 

The hour-long chase began when officers pulled over a Chevy pick-up driven by Richard Paul Kay for speeding on the West Loop in Lufkin, near Lotus Lane.  Kay sped off and the chase was on.

According to police reports, Kay went around Loop 287 in Lufkin twice at speeds nearing 100 mph. Eventually, he headed north on U.S. 69 to Alto. There, Kay drove into a field and let out his passenger, Dennis Arceneaux, who was taken into custody at the scene.

The chase continued back into Lufkin and Kay then took Highway 59 North towards Nacogdoches. Troopers with the Texas Department of Public Safety shot out one of Kay’s tires, but he continued on at 70 mph, driving into oncoming traffic. The chase ended around 6:15 pm when officers shot out a second tire and radiator, rendering the car useless.

Richard Kay was charged with evading arrest detention with vehicle, speeding, displaying fictitious license plate, aggravated assault, and tampering physical evidence with intent to impair.

The Lufkin Police Department, working with other agencies, released a video featuring portions of the pursuit.  Chief Gerald Williamson said the video is a testament to the level of coordination displayed by the eight agencies involved for such a volatile situation to end with no injuries.
“The officers used their radios and other means to communicate the actions of individual agencies to coordinate the efforts, so it ultimately resulted in the apprehension of a suspect who is involved with several other individuals who have been on a crime spree for several weeks now,” Williamson said. “Hopefully because of this apprehension, it will result in many charges being filed.”

“This guy and his partner seemed to have been involved in a drug-induced crime spree and we hopefully have put an end to their criminal activity for some time,” Williamson said.
Williamson said he would like to thank the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Parks & Wildlife, the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office, Wells Police Department, Alto Police Department and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office for their involvement.

 

 

 

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