Authorities are looking for another suspect who escaped arrest.
Nacogdoches County, Texas — Two Midwestern United States men were arrested after a high-speed chase across multiple East Texas counties where authorities seized more than 30 gallons of prescription drugs.
DeMarco Bell, 28, of Chicago, Illinois, and Jalen Joshua Johnson, 22, of Indianapolis, Indiana, have evaded arrest after being chased on Jan. 12, according to the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office. He was charged with drug possession.
Authorities are looking for another suspect who escaped arrest.
Before 8:00 am on January 12th, the driver drove away at over 100 miles per hour while attempting to stop the Hyundai Sonata at Block 8700 of US 259 North. He headed north and Texas Department of Public Safety officers followed the car into Rusk County, the sheriff’s office said.
The driver entered Route 315 and, although Rusk County officials tried to stop him, he reached 115 mph and headed for Panola County, officials said.
A Panora County constable deployed a spike strip to stop the vehicle, but the driver avoided it. The driver then turned toward the Panola County Deputy Constable, who fired into the car.
The chase continued to downtown Carthage, where the two escaped on foot and one was arrested. A third person continued to use the vehicle to avoid arrest, officials said.
The chase continued on US 59 through Tenaha to Timpson, where the driver stopped near the intersection of US 59 and CR 414 in Panola County.The driver was subsequently arrested, according to the sheriff’s office.
Officers found three suitcases and three cardboard boxes containing 252 pint bottles of promethazine, a prescription antihistamine. It is unclear how the suspect obtained the drugs.
Bell and Johnson ended up in jail, but then both tied the knot. Additional charges may apply, according to the sheriff’s office.
