Lufkin Police Release More Details About Friday’s High Speed Chase

Lufkin Police have released more details about Friday evening's high speed pursuit that started at the Walmart Supercenter in Lufkin and came to an end in southern Nacogdoches.   

According to an LPD press release, at 6:22 p.m., Lufkin Police were called to Walmart for a theft in progress. A man, later identified as Leslie Jackson, 47, of Nacogdoches, had taken a television out the of the box and was walking toward the Garden Center.

Loss prevention attempted to stop Jackson, but he continued walking out and was in the parking lot when the officer arrived. The officer attempted to speak Jackson, but Jackson told him “I already talked to them,” and continued to walk away. He then got into a maroon Chevy Cruze, where a female passenger was waiting and took off out of the parking lot at a high rate of speed, ignoring the officer. Jackson drove through the Sam's parking lot around Outback Steakhouse and turned right on Daniel McCall.  He then took a left on College and a right on South First Street.  Jackson made a U-turn on South First Street and continued north, reaching speeds well in excess of 100 mph. 

The pursuit  continued on U.S. 59 north with speeds reaching 125-130 mph Jackson weaved in and out of traffic.  As the pursuit entered Nacogdoches County, several NCSO deputies attempted to spike the vehicle but Jackson veered, crossed the median and drove north in the southbound lanes before reentering the northbound lanes.   He continued on U.S. 59 and turned right on CR 522 before bailing out the car and running behind 1048 CR 522 where he was caught by another LPD officer and taken into custody.

The passenger got out and waited in a driveway for officers.  She was visibly shaken and told officers that she had been trying to get out of the car because she was frightened.  A DPS Trooper told the officer that he noticed the woman trying to get out of the vehicle when Jackson had slowed down and that she seemed to be in distress. She told officers that Jackson had picked her up and was supposed to take her home, but asked if she would go to Walmart with him first. Officers do not believe she was involved in the theft.  

Jackson was taken to the Nacogdoches County Jail on a warrant for criminal nonsupport. A charge of third-degree-felony evading arrest with a previous conviction is pending.

An edited video of the pursuit is expected to be released on Monday.   Check back with the KICKS 105 website for that.