A police chase that began in Mesquite ended in Dallas with the suspect’s vehicle crashing and flipping over in the early hours of Wednesday.
Both the driver and passenger of an SUV involved in the high-speed chase with Dallas police have been hospitalized for non-life-threatening injuries. Although it is unknown what initially brought the suspect’s vehicle to the officers’ attention, they attempted a traffic stop in Mesquite at approximately 2 a.m.
However, the driver allegedly failed to stop, leading police on a high-speed chase toward Northeast Dallas. Described by Dallas police as driving dangerously against traffic, the suspect ended up rolling the vehicle over on Skillman Street, not far from Interstate 635. The crash occurred in District 10, which is represented by Council Member Kathy Stewart.
The investigation is ongoing; however, the suspect will face charges of evading arrest.
Vehicle-involved crime continues to present a considerable drain on the Dallas Police Department, which is laboring under a significant officer shortage. Although a City analysis called for a force of roughly 4,000 officers, DPD currently fields only around 3,000.
Motor vehicle theft is the most prevalent crime committed in Dallas, with 17,525 incidences logged as of December 6, according to the City’s crime analytics dashboard. This represents a rise of 40.9% year over year.
In Downtown Dallas, motor vehicle theft occurs far more frequently than in Fort Worth’s downtown area, which is patrolled by a special neighborhood police unit and private security guards. An analysis by the Metroplex Civic & Business Association shows that Downtown Dallas clocked 91 motor vehicle thefts compared to only two in Fort Worth’s downtown area in April alone, as previously covered by The Dallas Express.