Smith County Chase Suspect Identified

TYLER – A sheriff’s deputy and a suspect in a high-speed pursuit in Smith County have been released from the hospital, and the suspect is in custody. The suspect has been identified as Adrian Jason, 17, of Tyler. Officials say the chase occurred around 4:00 Saturday morning and ended off Farm Road 850 in the southeastern portion of the county. Sheriff Larry Smith says a deputy attempted to stop a suspicious vehicle and the driver of the vehicle refused to stop, leading the deputy on a short chase. Smith says during the pursuit, the driver took a wrong turn onto a dead end, bringing the chase to a halt. As the deputy was getting out of his patrol car, Jason reversed into the deputy, pinning him to the patrol car.

Sheriff Smith said the deputy feared for his life and fired one shot into the vehicle. He was then able to unpin himself from between the vehicles and fired two more shots into the vehicle, hitting the driver one time. Both the deputy and the driver were taken to the ETMC emergency room where they were treated for their injuries and released the same day. The deputy remains off duty on medical leave at this time per doctor’s orders. He is not currently on administrative leave.

Jason has been booked into the Smith County Jail on one count of aggravated assault against a public servant and one count of evading arrest. His bonds total $7500. The two passengers in his car, 15 and 17 years of age, were interviewed and released into the custody of family members.