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Numerous law enforcement agencies responded to a 19-year-old that fled in his car and on foot from a routine traffic stop for speeding, Tuesday, Aug. 19, near Columbus.
Columbus police officer Israel Salinas attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Joe Sosa, of Weimar, at approximately 5:23 p.m. for driving at 44 mph in a posted 35 mph zone northbound near the 1800 block of State Highway 71 South. According to Columbus Police Chief Skip Edman, the suspect evaded arrest in his car and then bailed out to flee on foot by the Colorado River. Columbus Police Department, Colorado County Sheriff’s Department, Austin County Sheriff’s Department and Texas State Troopers responded to the incident.
“We got a great response. Everybody worked together,” Edman said. “It was a very well executed, collaborative effort.”
According to the incident report from the Colorado County Sheriff’s Department, Sergeant Zane Blaha responded to “a wrecked vehicle on Austin and Robson Street that occurred from a vehicle evading a Columbus Police Officer on a traffic stop.” Blaha reportedly assisted with searching for the subject and holding perimeter. Edman said that Colorado County requested assistance from Austin County due to their having a K-9 unit and drones. The chase lasted about an hour before Sosa was arrested near the river.
Columbus Police Department’s incident report listed Sosa as a 5’7” Hispanic with brown hair. According to the incident report, law enforcement discovered loose bagged marijuana, a metal bong, e-cigarettes and marijuana cartridges.
Sosa was charged with evading arrest using a vehicle — a state jail felony, an accident involving damage to a vehicle — a class B misdemeanor, and possession of drug paraphernalia — a class C misdemeanor. Edman said that the case was referred to county’s attorney’s office for prosecution.
