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Jose Manuel Lopez

San Marcos Police pursuit ends in Maxwell

Thursday, August 23, 2018

A local man is behind bars in lieu of bonds totaling $148,000 following a police pursuit that began on Wonder World Drive in San Marcos and ended in Maxwell in Caldwell County.

Jose Manuel Lopez is charged with reckless driving, evading arrest both in a vehicle and on foot, driving while license invalid, criminal mischief and escape.

San Marcos Police Commander Brandon Winkenwerter, in an email sent after the Daily Record requested information through City Hall, said Lopez’s vehicle was observed running a red light in the 800 block of Wonder World Drive shortly after 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, after which the vehicle – make and model not supplied — “almost struck a semi truck that was attempting to make a turn in the intersection.”

After that, the vehicle turned north on the East Access Road, running the red light at Hwy. 123. It proceeded to enter the Interstate, almost colliding with another 18-wheeler. It exited at Hwy. 80 and ran a red light before continuing out of town on Hwy. 80.

“The pursuit traveled toward Maxwell,” Winkenwerter wrote. “During the pursuit the driver was seen throwing a plastic bag out of the window.” When Lopez and the pursuing officer arrived in Maxwell, Lopez jumped out and ran off on foot. He had not put the vehicle in “park” and it rolled, colliding with two vehicles in the 200 block of  Maxwell’s Fourth Street. “After a brief foot pursuit the offender was apprehended without further incident,” the email said. “A routing ID and warrants check discovered warrants out of Caldwell, Guadalupe and Hays counties.”

A fuller search of Lopez’ vehicle discovered narcotics, though the email did not specify what type or amount. Though police believed it was an illegal drug that Lopez threw out of the vehicle on Hwy. 80, the bag was not found. 

Police are following up on the narcotics aspect of the incident.

The email did not say how many officers were involved in the pursuit nor what agencies they represented. It also did not specify the time the pursuit began.

Online records indicate that Lopez has been in Hays County Jail 23 times since 1990 on charges including aggravated assault, retaliation and possession of marijuana.

San Marcos Record

(512) 392-2458
P.O. Box 1109, San Marcos, TX 78666