East Texan Arrested after High-Speed Chase

ATHENS � Authorities say an East Texas man led Chandler police, Tyler police, and Smith County officers on a high speed chase early Wednesday morning before being arrested. According to KETK, Jimmy Dewayne Lee, 53, allegedly began leading Chandler officers on a chase around 2:45am. Officials say the pursuit began in the southbound lanes of FM 315 and Highway 31. According to law enforcement reports, Lee began to take off after Officer Rick Smith tried to pull him over for going 47 MPH in a 30 MPH zone. Chandler Police Chief Ron Reeves says throughout the chase, speeds of 100 MPH were reached.

Officer Smith requested help from the Tyler Police Department and the Smith County Sheriff’s Office as Lee made his way to Tyler, according to authorities. Lee reportedly tried to turn on College Avenue, lost control of his car, and crashed into the fence in front of St. Gregory’s Catholic School. Reeves says Lee then got out of the car through the passenger side door and fled on foot because he had warrants for his arrest which carried a 20 year sentence. Lee ran to a dead end before turning around and running back toward officials, according to law enforcement. Authorities say Lee finally surrendered after a Smith County deputy threatened him with a taser.

When Officer Smith made the arrest on Lee, he reportedly found controlled substances in his pocket. Reeves believes it to be either crack or meth, but won’t be 100 percent sure until lab results come back. Lee was booked into the Henderson County Jail.