HUTTO, Texas (KXAN) — A Hutto police sergeant was killed in the line of duty while trying to apprehend a suspect Wednesday morning.
According to the Department of Public Safety, Sgt. Chris Kelley, 37, was trying to pull over Colby Ray Williamson, 26, during a traffic stop around 10 a.m. on Herrera Trail in Hutto.
During the stop, authorities say Kelley and Williamson got into a struggle. Williamson was allegedly able to jump into a Hutto police car and hit Kelley before leaving the scene. Kelley was taken to Seton Medical Center Williamson, where he died a short time later.
Because Kelley was a detective, he was not in uniform.
A few blocks away from Meadow Lark Lane, a perimeter of yellow tape could be seen around a silver car at the corner of Creek Ledge Drive and Decker Lane.
Williamson is from Austin and is currently in the Williamson County Jail, charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on a public servant. The Texas Rangers will be handling the investigation.
Meanwhile, Kelley’s colleagues are remembering him for the man he was daily — a loss that hits harder to home because he was the son of retired Austin Police Department Jack Kelley.
“He was very well-liked, a top-notch guy. We’re going to miss that,” said Hutto City Manager Karen Daly. “We’re a very small city with only 90 employees, so we all knew each other. And we see each other every day.”
The Hutto Police Department has a total of 25 sworn officers. While the Hutto Police Department grieves the loss of one of their own, the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office will be fielding the Department’s calls.
Williamson’s criminal history
Williamson was arrested in 2007 on charges of driving while intoxicated by the Travis County Sheriff’s Office. Prosecutors later changed the charge to obstruction of a highway passageway. He pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor.
He was also charged in 2007 with possession of less than two ounces of marijuana, but that charge was later dismissed.
In 2009 Williamson was again arrested on DWI charges, this time by Austin police. He was convicted of the misdemeanor and spent just over three months in jail.
He was arrested again in 2014 by Round Rock police officers on charges of driving with an invalid license and insurance.
Although the Hutto City manager said in a press conference Wednesday that the suspect in this case was a felon, KXAN could find no felony record for Williamson.
