Late-night car thief runs from police near OEDK
Students received an alert Feb. 2 near midnight from the Rice University Police Department regarding an active investigation. According to the email, RUPD and the West University Place Police Department were pursuing a male suspect driving a stolen vehicle who then ran, barefoot, to evade police near the Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen. The area is no longer being investigated.
WUPD Officer Katie Wilson said that the department gave chase after a residential security system on Bissonnet alerted them to a car theft.
“Officers located the vehicle and attempted a high-risk traffic stop, but the driver refused to stop, initiating a pursuit,” Wilson wrote in an email to the Thresher. “The suspect led officers on a 2.41-mile pursuit through Houston, which ended in the 1800 block of Rice Boulevard when the vehicle crashed into a tree.”
Wilson said RUPD was alerted when the suspect left the vehicle and began to run.
“WUPD notified [RUPD] to be on the lookout for the suspect, but officers were unable to locate the individual,” Wilson wrote. “The stolen vehicle was recovered.”
RUPD Chief of Police Clemente Rodriguez said that although an alert was sent out, police do not believe that the suspect is still on campus.
“We issued an alert as there was a possibility the suspect may have continued fleeing on foot through the campus grounds,” Rodriguez wrote in an email to the Thresher. “A thorough search of the area was conducted, but the suspect was not located, and we believe he has since left the immediate vicinity.”
Chief justices sent messages in their college GroupMes prior to the alert warning students to avoid the area around the OEDK.
The alert also stated that RUPD will be conducting extra evening patrols around the area and advised students to be vigilant.
“RUPD reminds everyone when walking on or around campus at night to be aware of your surroundings and try to walk with a friend or group if possible,” the alert read.
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