A three-hour standoff between a truck driver and Houston law enforcement ended Wednesday after SWAT team members ripped apart the tractor-trailer to apprehend the man.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez identified the truck driver as Trinidad Cutshall, 42, who has been charged with felony evading. Gonzalez said law enforcement is still investigating if Cutshall is the vehicle’s owner or a company driver — or someone who made off with the truck.
The incident began around 1 p.m. when a deputy sheriff officer saw the tractor-trailer parked in the middle of Interstate 10 in East Houston, according to Gonzalez.
“When the officer turned on his overheads, the truck driver proceeded to drive forward, going at a high rate of speed and then he started doing some evasive action, changing multiple lanes and swerving in and out of different lanes,” Gonzalez said during a news conference Wednesday.
The truck was eventually disabled by spike strips, which caused the truck to slow down and stop along the shoulder of the highway. Deputies surrounded the vehicle, but Cutshall reportedly refused to turn off the engine and get out of the truck.
“We attempted numerous things, from non-weapons, nonlethal methods, to eventually verbal commands and negotiations to no avail,” Gonzalez said. “He appeared to be behind the wheel in a glaze, just running the truck, revving the engine, as if he was still driving.”
Harris County officers used a Rook, a Humvee-like vehicle with a mechanical arm, to tear open the back of the truck’s cab. Afterward, they sent a police dog in to confront Cutshall, who reportedly still refused to surrender.
Cutshall eventually surrendered around 4 p.m. after sheriff’s officers fired several rounds of tear gas into the truck’s cabin.
“Eventually we were successful in gaining entry into the cab and eventually physically pulling him out,” Gonzalez said. “From his unresponsiveness … it appears that he might have been heavily impaired.”
The standoff between Cutshall and authorities closed off eastbound traffic on the highway for several hours. Gonzalez said Cutshall did not appear to have any weapons and no one was hurt during the incident.
More articles by Noi Mahoney
Thieves spirit away 19,000 bottles of tequila from US distributor
TR Sorvlet
Hey Mahoney…why do you take down someone’s comment?!…The truth can be heavy-handed at times! What about the first amendment? Maybe you’re one of those who only thinks that means allowing a Middle East trucker to post a 12″ decal on his truck depicting what looks like a classic image of an ISIS fighter(AK 47, turban, beard and ammo belt) …with the caption, LEGENDS NEVER DIE.
PDA
It was not a high rate of speed, nor is the rook anything like a humvee, it is more like a bobcat…
TR Sorvlet
What caused him to act this way?! Could it be the horrendous conditions and poor pay that Truckers endure?! Why can’t Washington overhaul this industry and make things fair for those doing this most difficult job?!! Answer- because WASHINGTON IS WORTHLESS!!
Roger Groves
How much money did this cost tax paying work folks? This could of been totally worked out without all of the flare. Makes me worried about next time I get sleepy and want to pull over for a little rest. WTF?