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Navarro and Ellis County Sheriff’s Offices, joined by many agencies, were involved in a car chase from Rice through Ellis County before ending near Bardwell Lake.
On Friday afternoon Rice Police, according to reports, attempted to make contact with a driver of a flatbed tow truck regarding a possible assault case. Upon arrival at the suspect’s vehicle, the Rice Police vehicle was stuck by the suspect and fled the location.
According to a press release issued by Ellis County Sheriff Brad Norman, NCSO contact Ellis County SO Dispatch to alert them to the suspect and his vehicle.
The driver was spotted at HWY 287 and Ensign Road in Ennis. The ECSO deputy vehicle responded to the location and proceeded to initiate a traffic stop on the suspect’s vehicle. Less than a minute after the deputy responded, the suspect ‘rammed’ the ECSO marked vehicle, which prompted the firing of the deputy’s duty weapon.
Sheriff Norman stated, “It should be noted that the patrol vehicle was now inoperable and pushed by the tow truck approximately 38 feet before coming to rest.”
As a result of the firing of the deputy’s weapon, per ECSO policy, the deputy has been placed on administrative leave until the internal investigation can be completed.
At approximately 1:14 PM the TDPS Trooper on duty spotted the fleeing vehicle at Nesuda Road and HWY 287. The tow truck mad an evasive action, turning south onto Nesuda Road, where the suspect lost control of the vehicle and rolled from the service road to a field.
The suspect exited the damaged vehicle and ran on foot to a woodline area towards Bardwell Lake.
Multiple agencies responded to the location and immediately set up a perimeter and command post – including the NCSO Lenco Bearcat Armored Truck. NCSO Sheriff Elmer Tanner stated, “This was a great example of a collaborative effort from law enforcement to apprehend this suspect. I am very thankful that neither the Rice PD officer nor the Ellis County Deputy were seriously injured during this incident.”
At 7:22 PM, the Texas Department of Corrections K9/Mounted unit from the Tennessee Colony (BETO Unit) located the suspect near a waterline of Bardwell Lake.
The suspect was taken into custody and transported to an ambulance, where he received medical attention for his injuries – which were crash related.
The suspect was identified as Lorenzo Marquez, Jr., a 24 year old male from Dallas. Marquez is currently being held at the Ennis County Justice Center with a charge of Aggravated Assault Against Public Servant, a Felony 1 charge. He also has a warrant out of Dallas County for a probation violation for Burglary.
Marquez will likely receive further charges as the investigation continues.
The NavCo Chronicle will continue with this story as more information becomes available.
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