HOUSTON – A Houston-area rental car business owner says what started as a routine vehicle rental quickly turned into one of the most terrifying moments of his life.
The owner, who asked KPRC 2 not to identify him or his business out of fear of retaliation, says he was dragged across a parking lot after a man allegedly used a fake Texas driver’s license to rent one of his vehicles.
The violent encounter was captured on surveillance video.
Now, the case is drawing attention not only because of the dramatic footage, but also because of the defendant’s criminal history and renewed questions about repeat offenders in Harris County.
According to Houston police, the incident happened on July 17 at the Mustang Inn on Tidwell Road.
Surveillance video obtained by KPRC 2 shows the moment the rental car owner tracked down the vehicle and confronted the man police identified as Nicholas Yoder.
Investigators say Yoder got behind the wheel and drove away while the owner was standing near the driver’s side door.
The owner says he became trapped by the moving SUV and was dragged across the parking lot before letting go.
“I’m pretty shaken up about it because I did get dragged by a car,” the owner told KPRC 2’s Re’Chelle Turner.
The encounter didn’t end there.
Police say the SUV crashed into the front of the Mustang Inn, shattering the entrance and injuring a hotel clerk before the driver abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot.
The owner also showed KPRC 2 damage to the front of the Dodge Durango, saying the ordeal remains one of the scariest experiences he’s ever faced.
The business owner says the rental appeared legitimate at first.
He says the customer presented what appeared to be a valid Texas driver’s license and completed the rental agreement.
“We rented the car out to him then further background checks found out that the guy on the driver’s license was in jail,” he said.
The owner later shared car surveillance video with KPRC 2 showing Yoder sitting inside the rental vehicle at the hotel before the confrontation.
Police say the driver’s license used during the rental transaction was fraudulent.
Arrest made days later
According to Houston police, Yoder was arrested on July 23.
Court records show he is now facing multiple felony charges connected to the investigation, including:
- Fraud/Use or Possession of Identifying Information
- Evading Arrest/Detention with a Previous Conviction
- Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon
- Criminal Mischief
A review of Harris County District Clerk records shows Yoder has faced more than 20 felony cases since 2015.
Those court records include felony cases involving:
- Aggravated assault
- Evading arrest
- Weapons offenses
- Identity fraud
- Drug possession
- Unauthorized use of a vehicle
The court records reflect a mix of pending cases, dismissed cases and other dispositions.
Andy Kahan with Crime Stoppers of Houston says Yoder has multiple felony convictions and had recently been released from prison before this latest arrest.
“Multiple felony convictions. He had two counts of felon in possession of a weapon, a gun. He had evading arrest. He was sent to prison for five years in 2023. He was released on parole in 2025. He doesn’t discharge parole until 2027,” Kahan said.
Kahan says once Yoder was arrested, parole officials issued what’s commonly known as a blue warrant.
“The parole warrant, which is known as a blue warrant, is the most powerful warrant in the state because it’s a no bond warrant,” Kahan said.
The case also highlights concerns surrounding identity fraud.
According to the City of Houston, police received 2,695 identity theft reports in 2024, down from 3,484 reports in 2023, a 22.6% decrease.
While reports have declined, Kahan says identity fraud continues to impact businesses and consumers alike.
“The businesses are the ones who suffer, but the businesses are not the only ones who suffer. It’s the public, because businesses have to increase their prices, consumers have to pay more, all because we keep letting offenders like Yoder back out to do what they do best, and that’s commit crimes,” Kahan said.
The rental car owner says he hopes sharing his story encourages other business owners to strengthen their screening processes before handing over vehicle keys.
“Definitely doing a better job at doing background checks and applying better systems to keep everybody safe,” he said.
Because of concerns for their safety, the owner and his family asked KPRC 2 not to identify them or their business by name.
They say their goal is not only to warn others about rental fraud and identity theft, but also to spark a broader conversation about repeat offenders and public safety in the Houston area.