Bundles of cash fly out car window in Liberty County chase

Thousands of dollars were left blowing in the wind early Saturday when five Tennessee men in an SUV released the money out of windows as they were being chased by authorities through Polk and Liberty counties.

The group members, who told deputies they were headed to South Texas for vacation, discarded roughly $50,000 in cash, according to a report from the Liberty County Sheriff's Office.

The vehicle was slowed by spike strips that had been issued to a deputy on Friday.

Around 5 a.m., Polk County authorities alerted Liberty County officials that deputies were pursing an SUV southbound on U.S. 59. Polk County is immediately north of Liberty County and its governmental seat, Livingston, is about 80 miles north of Houston.

When the GMC truck reached Liberty County, three of the four tires were punctured by spike strips deployed by Sgt. Travis Pierce, a news release said.

"The vehicle continued the attempted high-speed escape on rims," the agency reported. That's when pursuing authorities saw currency in bundles and singles begin fluttering beside and behind the SUV.

The driver and passengers, all in their mid-20s, were stopped and arrested near New Caney.

The men "refused to give any explanation as to why they were trying to evade pur-suing sheriff's units from two counties" and had to be reminded that spring break happened months ago.

Authorities recovered more than $48,000.

All five men have extensive criminal records, according to authorities. Each was charged with tampering with evidence and evading arrest.

Marquavis Lytle and Deandre Brown, both 26, as well as 25-year-olds Deangelo Young, Reginald Black and Chaka Grady were booked into the Liberty County jail. All have home addresses in the greater Nashville area.