Watching our officers in a high speed chase around Loop 287 yesterday, I noticed something. Some drivers were not aware of what to do when an emergency vehicle is behind them. The video revealed some of the drivers in front of the officer didn't follow the law, others did. Luckily everyone is safe after this chase, and the criminals are behind bars. This statement from the Lufkin Police includes vital reminders at the end.

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Lufkin Police & Fire via Facebook
02.02.20 PURSUIT: An officer was working traffic on Loop 287 around 11 a.m. yesterday, when he came across a white Chevy Tahoe reported stolen out of South Carolina. He initiated a traffic stop on the SUV near the DPS office on Loop 287, but the driver refused to stop.

The vehicle continued on at a high rate of speed on Loop 287, taking a right turn on Raguet Street headed inbound toward Downtown Lufkin. From Raguet, the vehicle turned right onto Angelina Street and continued onto Feagin Drive toward Loop 287.

At the intersection, the vehicle turned left onto Loop 287 and headed northbound. An officer attempted to spike the vehicle’s tires as it neared Ellen Trout Zoo, but he was unsuccessful. The vehicle took the Kurth Drive exit and the driver stuck his hand out of the window, motioning that he was going to stop.

Officers then performed a high-risk traffic stop on the vehicle and identified the driver as 24-year-old Donny Grammar of New Ellenton, South Carolina. His passenger was Rebekah Clark, 26, of Aiken, South Carolina. Grammar admitted that he stole the vehicle from a friend.

A search of the vehicle uncovered six guns – two of which had been reported stolen, counterfeit money and a black pouch containing a scale, baggies, needles and nine grams of methamphetamine. One of the needles contained a clear liquid. A pink pouch was also found in the back seat that contained more needles. Clark was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia for that pouch.

The chase lasted roughly 14 minutes and reached speeds in excess of 100 mph. Angelina County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety assisted in the incident.

Grammar was charged with evading arrest with a vehicle, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, delivery of a controlled substance and forgery of a financial instrument. He remains in the Angelina County Jail while Clark was released on bond.

The dog was taken by Animal Control and the owner is picking her up today.

We are so thankful no one was hurt during this pursuit. That being said, we would like to take a moment to remind everyone that the Texas Transportation Code states you must “YIELD” i.e. “PULLOVER” for emergency vehicles.

Here are a few safety tips that apply when an emergency vehicle is approaching from behind:

• Slow down and check the flow of traffic around you.
• If you’re the lead vehicle, put your hazard lights on so cars behind you know there’s an emergency ahead.
• Utilize your turn signal and pull over as far to the right as you can, so the emergency vehicle can pass you. It is important to drive as safely as possible so you don’t cause an accident or disrupt traffic further.
• Pull back onto the road only after the emergency vehicle is a safe distance ahead of you.
• Stay at least 500 feet behind any emergency vehicle with its lights on.

Remember that the law applies to all emergency vehicles – police, fire and EMS.

 

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