AUSTIN (KXAN) — A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper shot a man in the arm after a car chase that ended in north Austin on Monday morning, according to DPS.
The department said a trooper tried to pull over a driver headed north on Interstate 35 who they believed had active warrants out for his arrest, but the person didn’t stop.
KXAN’s Dylan McKim reported that it appeared the chase ended in a parking lot of a business park near I-35 and Rundberg Lane. McKim reported troopers looking at a black Lincoln car that had some damage to the front right tire. Investigators were also walking around a small grassy area by the parking lot. DPS confirmed the address was 8800 North Park Drive and that the driver tried to run away after he stopped.
The trooper shot the man in the arm as he ran, DPS said. He was taken to the hospital.
A woman was also in the car at the time. She was detained and released, DPS said, adding it did not know if she faced charges. DPS has not identified her, the driver or the trooper who shot him. DPS said mid-morning Monday it couldn’t confirm the charges in the initial warrant or any other charges the driver may face.
City leaders briefed Austin City Council about the shooting. A council member said troopers involved were in Austin as a part of the partnership between APD and DPS.
“This was somebody that we wanted off the street. There was a warrant for that person’s arrest for a felony activity and that person is now off the street,” Mayor Kirk Watson said.
The Austin Justice Coalition, meanwhile, says they’re concerned about DPS policy and transparency.
“Me, right, one of the harshest critics of APD, I have to comment on how they have changed over the years. Officer involved shooting, Chief Chacon, our assistant chiefs come out. They let people know what’s going on, ongoing investigation. DPS shot somebody and that was it,” Chas Moore, co-executive director of AJC said.