Summary

Dash-cam video has been released from behind the wheel during a wild and dangerous car chase in Gregg county with speeds of over 120 miles an hour. The chase began around 6 p-m Tuesday night and lasted more than 20 minutes through Gregg and Harrison counties. When Lakeport police spotted 26 year old Benjamin Taylor, he was only moderately speeding. They didn't know what they were in for next. "He accelerated and took off," says Lakeport police chief Wesley Freeman. Freeman was right behind Taylor during the chase. His dash-cam video captured his pursuit on fm-349. At one point Taylor was going over 120. "The risk factor was that we had to get this guy off the street before he seriously injured and innocent person" says Freeman. He made several dangerous moves around traffic, and swerved to avoid hitting trucks and spikes that were laid out on I-20. At one point he slows down as if he's giving up, then he takes off again."Because he was so unpredictable, you may have to make a decision to put an officer in harms way," Freeman says. Finally, 4 miles past the Hallsville exit, a second set of spikes blow his tires. Then a wave of officers storm the car to get him in custody. "You don't know what you're dealing with is this person is he armed what does he have , even though he was showing his hands had his hands up through the sun roof you don't know when you get up there is he going to jerk them down does he have a weapon" says Freeman. Freeman is thankful that miraculously, no one was hurt. Taylor was being held at the Harrison county jail on D-W-I charges, but is free after posting 2-thousand dollars bond. District attorneys from Gregg and Harrison counties are discussing which county will file evading arrest charges against him.Police Report:On Tue., April 8th at appr. 17:22, I, Wesley Freeman and Officer Chris Vaughn observed a gold colored vehicle traveling west on FM 349 at 69 mph in a posted 55 mph zone. I observed the vehicle passing 3 other westbound vehicles in a no passing zone at the crest of the hill. I pursued the vehicle in excess of 100 mph. I caught up with the suspect cehicle appr. .25 miles west of Pleasant Green Rd. The suspect cehicle was observed to be a Gold colored Mitsubishi bearing TX LP#482-BBK. The suspect was observed throwing small white items out the window and then the sun roof. The suspect vehicle continued West to FM 2011. The suspect vehicle drove across center line into the SB lane of taffic. The suspect vehicle accelerated ahead of officers. As suspect vehicle approached entrance ramp to I-20, suspect passed 2 vehicles in a no passing zone who were stopped at a yield sign. Suspect vehicle turned east onto I-20 at the 592 marker. I pursued the suspect at the 596 marker passing a maroon colored vehicle. Suspect came back to the inside lane. Suspect ran upon the back of a white pickup truck that was trying to move to the right and had to slam his brakes on to avoid a collision. The suspect vehicle started to lose water and oil. The suspect vehicle slowed and pulled to the right hand shoulder as if he were iving up. As I pulled over behind him at the 598 marker and opened my door, the suspect accelerated, taking off east bound. The suspect vehicle moved back into the inside lane of traffic and accelerated to over 100 mph. DPS trooper Carl Davis joined the pursuit at appr. the 603 marker. We were advised that Harrison County troopers had spikes set up at the 606 marker. As we passed the 604 marker, a Harrison County deputy and Hallsilled PD officers pulled into the pursuit. As we approached the 606 marker, the suspect vehicle pulled into the right hand lane. Officer Vaughn advised the trooper of the suspect vehicles location and that it had its flashers on. As the trooper deployed the spikes, the suspect vehicle swerved hard to the left, missing the spikes. We continued on EB. The suspect vehicle began to accelerate faster. Trooper Joe Hill with the Harrison County DPS Office was at the 608 marker with spikes. The suspect vehicle was in the inside lane of traffic. As the suspect vehicle passed, trooper Hill was able to successfully spike the suspect vehicle, getting all 4 tires. The suspect vehicle moved to the outside lane of traffic and began to slow as the tires deflated. The suspect vehicle pulled back into the inside lane and over toward the median. H then slowed as if he was going to stop. But he sped up contin uing along the median for appr. 1/2 mile. The suspect put his hands p through the sun roof as the vehicle rolled. Officer Vaughn got on the PA and advised the suspect to stop the vehicle. At the time, the suspect applied the brake and officers rushed his vehicle. The suspect had the doors locked and force was used to bust the passenger side window out to remove the suspect. The suspect was removed and placed into custody at appr. 17:38.The suspect was identified as Taylor, Benjamin Waszell. Mr. Taylor had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. He had also spilled alcohol on his clothing. Mr. Taylor advised that at the time we obsered him, he was thinking of running vehicle into trees in an attempt to kill himself. Mr. Taylor spoke with officers as we removed ants that were biting him. Mr. Taylor later stated that he had taken unknown pills and eaten cocaine. Mr. Taylor was booked into the Harrison County Jail for DWI M/B. Evading arrest with motor vehicle with previous conviction F/3 will be filed with the DA's office.