HOUSTON – Police searched for hours early Thursday morning after a high-speed chase suspect escaped into a northwest Houston neighborhood.
The chase ended around 3:30 a.m. when the driver slammed into a power box at the intersection of Mangum Road and West 43rd Street.
Investigators said the force of the crash knocked out the traffic light and a few other nearby lights.
"They tried to stop a vehicle and when the deputy walked up to the car, the driver took off. The deputy apparently saw some crack cocaine in the car with the guy so we think that is why he is running," said Lt. Larry Crowson with the Houston Police Department.
Investigators said the suspect drove off through residential neighborhoods and reached speeds over 100 mph.
Police said after the suspect crashed and ran through a neighborhood, they locked down the area and set up a perimeter. Officers used dogs and a helicopter in their search, but after hours of searching, Crowson said he was not found.
"Anytime you have somebody who runs from the police it is dangerous, and once they run out into the neighborhood, there is no telling what they'll do so we really would like to find him," Crowson said.
Police stopped the all-out search around 5 a.m.
Police said they found paperwork left in the man's car which likely identifies him.