Officials: Man Captured after Escaping Trooper

FRANKSTON � An anonymous tip Wednesday led Department of Public Safety Troopers to Frankston, where they arrested a Chandler man they say escaped custody last Friday in Dogwood City. According to KETK, authorities say Victor Jose Ortega had escaped after he was arrested following a traffic stop on Highway 155 South. Officials report Ortega, 33, was spotted in a vehicle traveling eastbound on Murchison Street in Frankston. A Frankston police officer stopped the vehicle, but authorities say the driver of refused to pull over and a short pursuit began. Troopers arrested the suspect in the Subway parking lot.

Ortega was transported to the Anderson County Jail. He faces charges of failure to identify, possession of a controlled substance (three charges), possession of marijuana, and escape. DPS was assisted by Smith County Sheriff�s Office and Frankston Police.

On Friday at around 9:10 p.m., a trooper stopped a vehicle at a convenience store on Highway 155 South in Dogwood City. The person inside the vehicle was identified as Ortega. Ortega was questioned, and it was discovered the suspect was wanted on a parole warrant. Once the warrant was confirmed by authorities, he was handcuffed and seat belted inside the trooper’s patrol car. Officials say when the trooper was searching Ortega’s vehicle, Ortega managed to get out of the patrol unit and ran from the scene on foot. Several DPS troopers, Smith County Sheriff�s deputies and a DPS helicopter out of Longview all assisted in the initial search for Ortega.