HOUSTON – A shoplifter reportedly trying to run from Houston Police officers jumped from the second floor of the Galleria Mall and landed on the ice skating rink below, where he was found unable to move.
Officers with the Houston Police Department were working an extra job at the Galleria Mall on Sunday when they were notified of a shoplifting incident at one of the stores around 2:20 p.m.
Shortly after, they found the man who was accused of stealing.
When they started to chase after him, he took off and eventually jumped from the second floor of the mall, landing on the ice skating rink below.
“I seen the Zamboni coming out to clear the ice and then I just see somebody fall,” said Ken Gilliard, who was near the ice skating rink when the man jumped. “As soon as he fell, he tried to get up. And I guess he noticed that his legs were broken. He screamed, my legs are broken.”
Video from Gilliard shows the man lying on the floor.
“Oh my God,” Gilliard said in the video. “Bro just fell from up there. He jumped from the top, landed straight on ice.”
In the video, you can see Houston police officers making their way onto the ice to help the suspect.
“I don’t know why he thought he was gonna make that landing whatsoever,” said Victor Harris, who was shopping at the Galleria Mall on Tuesday.
The Houston Police Department tells KPRC 2’s Gage Goulding that the suspect was transported to the hospital with injuries.
The suspect has pending charges of evading police and theft. Houston Police will not release the identity of the man until charges are formally filed.
It’s not noted in the report if drugs or alcohol were involved.