AUSTIN -- William Gonzalez, 25, has been charged after he allegedly nearly ran over a police officer in the early morning hours of Jan. 14.
According to an affidavit, several officers responded to a vehicle that was reportedly parked in the right lane of the North Interstate 35 service road at the traffic light of 51st Street. When they arrived, Gonzalez was passed out at the wheel of his Chevy Malibu slumped in his seat with his head dropped down below the steering wheel.
One officer parked in front of the Chevy while another officer parked behind the vehicle. Responding officers attempted to wake Gonzalez up by pounding on the vehicle's windows. After several knocks, Gonzalez woke up and began to repeatedly put his vehicle in drive and reverse, striking the patrol cars in front and behind his vehicle.
The affidavit said that as he drove forward and backward, he looked around at all the officers on the scene. At some point he made eye contact with an officer who was telling him to stop. He eventually was able to push the patrol car in front of him to the side and proceed forward. At this point, he drove toward some of the officers, who had to jump out of the path of the vehicle.
Gonzalez then drove over the raised curb and ran over the pedestrian crosswalk pole.
He led police on a chase westbound on 51st Street and onto Airport Boulevard. At some point, he exited his vehicle and began climbing over fences and running through backyards. A K9 unit finally released his dog to apprehend Gonzalez.
He was charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, evading police and driving while intoxicated. His bond was set at $100,000.
