A suspect led Houston Police on a lengthy pursuit from the Pasadena area into The Heights early Wednesday. Family identified the suspect as 26-year-old Andrew Trevino.
Police say they were checking reports of suspicious activity around 9 a.m. when the suspect refused to pull over.
A short time later, Houston TranStar freeway cameras showed the suspect traveling westbound on Highway 225. His mother watched the drama unfold on television.
"I just prayed to God that he wouldn't hurt anyone," his mother said.
RAW VIDEO: Police chase suspect through Houston
Air 11 was overhead as the suspect, who was in an older Jeep Grand Cherokee, led officers to the 610 South Loop and then Highway 288. The suspect headed northbound through downtown on I-45, weaving around congested traffic.
Eventually, he exited at Allen Parkway and sped past the KHOU 11 studios. He then went northbound on Studemont through The Heights where his grandma lives. Witnesses say he started to slow down through the neighborhood and seemed to be on the phone. Turns out he was on the phone with his mother.
"I called him and he answered my call, and I told him to stop," his mother said.
But he didn't stop right away. Police managed to blow at least one of the suspect’s tires using a spike strip, and the man came to a stop in a wooded area along Yale near Crosstimbers down a dead-end street.
The suspect got out of his Jeep and police tackled him, taking him into custody without further incident.
In all the chase lasted about an hour.
Trevino was facing drug charges. He had a warrant out for his arrest after he failed to appear at a court date last week. His mother says her son had recently spent time in jail and had been assaulted by an inmate. She says he's mentally ill and may have fled because he was scared to go back to jail.
