Suspect steals police car, may have hopped a freight

A chase involving a suspicious SUV and Montgomery County authorities led to the suspect crashing, fleeing on foot into some woods, circling back, stealing a Magnolia police car and eventually escaping on a passing freight train early Thursday. Read more at Montgomery County Police Reporter. less A chase involving a suspicious SUV and Montgomery County authorities led to the suspect crashing, fleeing on foot into some woods, circling back, stealing a Magnolia police car and eventually escaping on a ... more Photo: Scott Engle / Montgomery County Police Reporter Photo: Scott Engle / Montgomery County Police Reporter Image 1 of / 6 Caption Close Suspect steals police car, may have hopped a freight 1 / 6 Back to Gallery

A man led police on a bizarre chase early Thursday around the town of Magnolia, where he refused to stop his vehicle for officers, eluded them during a brief foot chase and then stole a police car.

Authorities are wondering if he then got away by boarding a freight train that was passing through the area.

The man, who was driving an older-model Chevrolet Suburban with grey primer paint, initially was approached by police during a traffic stop in the 31200 block of Old Hockley Road around 2 a.m. Thursday, said Magnolia police Capt. James Senegal. He was flagged for failing to dim his high beams.

The suspect refused to stop, and a chase ensued, according to Senegal. Police followed him for just over 15 minutes, eventually calling in the assistance of the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, whose deputies threw road spikes in an attempt to slow the vehicle.

The driver ran into a ditch alongside the road, jumped out and hopped a fence into a nearby wooded area, with police in pursuit.

During a brief foot chase, the man gave officers the slip. He doubled back and jumped into one of the idle police Chevy Tahoes and drove off.

Senegal said police vehicles typically have a safety mechanism that prevents other people from driving off in them. In this case, Senegal said, either the vehicle didn't have that protection or it wasn't working.

Police were able to locate the undamaged vehicle by using a GPS tracking device at the intersection of Old Hardin Road and Hughes Lane. The man was nowhere to be found, and a K-9 unit followed his scent before losing it near train tracks.

Senegal said a freight train had been in the area during the time of the chase, but reports that the man jumped into the train were still "speculation."

He said Thursday that police still were chasing leads to find the man. Senegal could not immediately provide a description of the suspect.

Senegal said police found a rifle, a pistol and some drugs in the car the man originally was driving, and one of the guns was stolen.

"Based on the fact that there was a weapon, including a stolen weapon, and narcotics in the vehicle, we can only assume that this guy is a criminal," Senegal said.