AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin Police Department (APD) arrested a man after allegedly discovering more than 300 pieces of stolen mail from more than 110 addresses, as well as two counterfeit USPS Arrow Keys, in his possession.
According to an affidavit obtained by KVUE, police were dispatched to the 900 block of Reinli Street at around 2 p.m. on July 22 after receiving calls about a suspicious vehicle.
Police located a white Honda CRV carrying 12 air conditioning units in a utility trailer and followed the vehicle as it exited the parking lot.
Officers noticed that the trailer did not have working brake lights, prompting them to attempt a traffic stop. The vehicle, however, did not stop and instead accelerated, initiating a pursuit.
The chase lasted over 12 minutes and traveled around 10 miles, with the driver running numerous red lights and stop signs, as well as driving into oncoming traffic on multiple occasions and hitting two vehicles.
The driver then drove off-road onto the campus of East Austin College Prep School at 5800 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd., before stopping and attempting to flee on foot.
Police were able to catch the driver of the vehicle, identified as 47-year-old William Mitchell. The vehicle also had a passenger, who did not leave the vehicle but was also detained.
Police determined that Mitchell had a number of active warrants stemming from prior incidents, including unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, theft of property greater than $30,000 but less than $150,000, and burglary of a building. The vehicle Mitchell was driving was also discovered to have been stolen.
While searching the vehicle, police discovered 321 pieces of mail from 115 different addresses scattered throughout the vehicle. Police also located two counterfeit USPS Arrow Keys: one in the center console and one inside a lunch box in the back seat. The lunch box also contained 1.8 gram bag of methamphetamine.
Mitchell was taken to the Travis County Jail, where he was charged with possession of a controlled substance greater than one gram but less than four grams, evading arrest with a vehicle, mail theft of over 30 addresses, unauthorized use of a vehicle and use of a criminal instrument, in regard the Arrow Keys.
The passenger of the vehicle was released.
