Deputies were led on a more than hour-long chase late Sunday after a military-style truck fled the scene of multiple hit-and-runs through parts of Harris County and Houston before stopping on the Eastex Freeway.
Authorities identified the driver as Omar Moreno, 53. He is facing three counts of aggravated assault and one count of evading arrest.
What happened
According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, the incident began at 9:47 p.m. on Jan. 4 when an off-duty Precinct 4 constable deputy was at a gas station along the Eastex Freeway at Aldine Bender and witnessed a hit-and-run crash with injuries.
That deputy called for help, and within minutes, sheriff’s deputies located the suspect vehicle, described as a military-style tractor trailer with no license plates.
When deputies attempted a traffic stop, investigators say the driver refused to pull over. That decision triggered a pursuit that would lasted 65 minutes, covered 27 miles, and reached a top speed of 40 mph.
Deputies say the chase moved through several major roadways and neighborhoods.
During the pursuit, deputies deployed spike strips multiple times in an effort to stop the vehicle. At one point near Beltway 8 and Garrett Road, the truck briefly came to a stop. A deputy fired one round, but authorities say it did not stop the driver.
The pursuit continued into east Houston, reaching Interstate 10 near Waco Street before turning north and looping back toward the Eastex Freeway.
While many of us slept, an intense police situation unfolded overnight.@HCSOTexas deputies received reports of a driver in a commercial truck striking multiple vehicles. With assistance from @TxDPS and @houstonpolice, deputies located the vehicle and a pursuit followed. The… pic.twitter.com/9xWsx65h1X
— Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) January 5, 2026
Multiple other law enforcement agencies joined the pursuit, including Texas DPS, Harris County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office, and the Houston Police Department.
Authorities say troopers also fired rounds in an attempt to disable the vehicle, but those efforts were unsuccessful.
Despite visible damage, deputies say the driver continued moving through traffic.
Authorities estimate the suspect struck at least 10 vehicles before the pursuit even began.
During the chase itself, deputies say the driver attempted to ram several law enforcement vehicles.
Eventually, the tractor-trailer came to a stop just south of Little York on the main lanes of U.S. 59 North.
Once the vehicle stopped, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team responded.
Deputies attempted to make verbal contact with the suspect, but those efforts failed. Authorities then deployed gas at 1:20 a.m., Monday, which investigators say led to the suspect surrendering.
Chief Deputy Tommy Diaz said the suspect was taken into custody without injuries.
“We did deploy gas, which was effective. We do have the suspect in custody. He’s a 53-year-old Hispanic male. There are no injuries. He was not struck by gunfire, nor was he injured. There’s no further danger to the community,” Diaz said.
Following is a preliminary list of locations where the truck struck various vehicles during the incident:
- 1 vehicle at Hermann Road and Suburban Road (8:35 p.m.)
- 1 vehicle at Winfield Road and Hirsch Road (9:34 p.m.)
- 1 vehicle at Aldine Mail Route Road and Eastex Freeway (9:37 p.m.)
- 1 vehicle in the 11900 block of Mandy (9:46 p.m.)
- 2 vehicles at Old North Belt Drive and N. Sam Houston Parkway (9:49 p.m.)
- 2 vehicles at N. Sam Houston Parkway at Mesa Road (9:57 p.m.)
No weapon was found, and authorities say the suspect did not fire a gun during the pursuit.
No deputies or civilians were hurt.
Moreno does not own the military-style semi truck.
He was booked into the Harris County Jail
Suspect’s criminal history
In April of 2025, court records reveal Omar Moreno was found in a stolen stalled vehicle while naked. The vehicle wasn’t running and he claimed someone loaned him the car, but the victim said her car had been stolen around 9 a.m. on April 30th. He was arrested by the Harris County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office.
Then in July, Moreno pleaded guilty to unauthorized use of a vehicle, received a 70 day jail sentence, and got credit for 71 days in jail. Records show Moreno has previous arrests for criminal mischief and trespassing.
Anyone with information related to the case is urged to contact the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.