Published: July 02, 2008 08:03 am      

110-mph chase ends in arrest

By Lacie Morrison
lmorrison@mineralwellsindex.com

PALO PINTO COUNTY - A high-speed chase late Saturday night led to the arrest of a Decatur man, officials said.

At approximately 10:30 p.m., Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Jason Dudley said he attempted to initiate a traffic stop on a 2001 Dodge Dakota traveling westbound on Interstate 20 at mile marker 382, about four miles west of the U.S. Highway 281 intersection.

Dudley explained he clocked the pickup at 72 mph in a 65 mph zone. When he attempted to stop the vehicle, Dudley said the driver “accelerated and pursuit was initiated.”

According to DPS, the pursuit continued westbound for approximately 12 miles with speeds up to 110 mph. Dudley reported that traffic was light and no accidents were caused during the chase.

The DPS official reported they “had another unit set up to deploy road spikes past Bar-B Travel Plaza but they weren't utilized.”

Instead, the suspect exited the interstate and headed north on Farm-to-Market Road 919 where he stopped.

When the driver, later identified as Rex Aaron Bennett, 36, refused to exit the vehicle, Dudley said they broke out the driver's side window and took the driver into custody.

“He said he ran because he was on parole and had been drinking,” Dudley said.

According to the DPS sergeant, they conducted a sobriety test and determined Bennett wasn't intoxicated.

Bennett was charged with evading arrest with a motor vehicle, a state jail felony, and his truck was towed. According to Palo Pinto County Jail records, Bennett posted a $15,000 bond late Monday evening.