HOUSTON – A man is facing felony charges after robbing two stores and leading police on a chase in southeast Houston on Sunday, according to authorities.
Investigators said the suspect robbed a CVS Pharmacy in the 2900 block of Pearland Parkway at about 10 a.m. on Sunday.
Rachel Ellsworth said she was inside the store with her 16-year-old son during the robbery. Ellsworth said she felt like she was in a movie scene.
"My heart was pounding and we were really fearful," said Ellsworth. "I thought that he was going to come to the back of the store with a gun and see where people were hiding. And I was there with my son and it made me panic."
After Ellsworth dialed 911, Pearland Police notified other law enforcement in the area. A few minutes later, investigators said a Houston police officer spotted the suspect's car.
Police said the driver refused to stop. He eventually jumped from the car near I-45 and FM 2351 and made a run for it, investigators said.
Houston Police called in K9 units, who quickly went to work tracking down the suspect.
"The HPD K9 officer did encounter and engage the suspect in the woods. And we anticipate getting felony charges for aggravated assault on a peace officer for him assaulting the K9 officer," said G. Llanez with the Houston Police Department.
Investigators said they quickly realized the suspect they'd just arrested was also connected to a robbery earlier Sunday morning at a Walgreens on Scarsdale and Beamer Road.
Officers said they later found drugs in the suspect's car. He's now facing charges of felony evading arrest and felony robbery, police said.
There were no reported injuries in either of the robberies.