The 1980s Pontiac Firebird that took Sheriff’s deputies on a wild ride Thursday night was fast. But as quick as the vehicle was, it was no match for the speed of the Navarro County Sheriff’s Department radio.
Navarro County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Mike Cox praised his department’s quick thinking and instinctive actions to avoid any potential problems in the pursuit.
“The deputies exercised good judgment and I am very pleased with how it turned out,” Cox said.
The chase began around 8:40 p.m. in the 6200 block of West State Highway 31. Cox said it was a disturbance call that came in over the scanner.
“Deputy Scott Wiley saw a pair of individuals get into a red Firebird and they did not heed the sirens,” Cox added.
Jessie Wayne Sisk, 21 and Sabine Acevedo, 21, led police on a 50 minute ordeal up and down Hwy. 31 at speeds close to 90 miles an hour, Cox said.
Cox said the Department of Public Safety used tire spikes, but that did not stop the suspects. A second set of tire spikes was deployed by the Sheriff’s department, but it was not until Deputy Duane Onstott executed a pit maneuver that the car came to a stop.
“He did a very good job,” Cox said in reference to Onstott’s actions.
Several times during the near hour long pursuit, dispatchers and deputies warned other surrounding agencies of the danger. Cox praised the communications effort in avoiding disaster.
Calls from Wiley during the pursuit indicated that Sisk was driving on the wrong side of the highway for much of the night. One call noted Sisk raising his hand out of the window, and when ordered to stop, gave ensuing officers an obscene gesture with his left hand.
Sisk was charged with driving while license is invalid, evading arrest and reckless driving. Acevedo had a theft by check warrant out of Tarrant County.
Both remained in custody at press time Friday. Sisk is being held in lieu of $8,000 in total bonds. Acevedo is being held on $2,500 worth of bonds.
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Police assault rifle stolen
Around lunchtime Thursday, an unknown individual or individuals broke into a Mexia Police officer’s private vehicle in the Home Depot parking lot and stole several important items, Corsicana Police Detective Jeff Schafer said.
According to Schafer, the burglars stole an AR-15 assault rifle, a laptop computer, one police uniform, a jacket and several other items with police logos.
The items were stolen in broad daylight, Schafer added.
The victim’s vehicle is described by the detective as a 2000 model rust colored Ford F-350.
In addition to the items listed above, handcuffs and a duty bag were also stolen, Schafer said.
Friday afternoon, Schafer said the missing uniform, jacket and other equipment had been recovered, but the assault rifle and computer had not yet been located.
Schafer is urging any resident who might have been in the Home Depot parking lot between 11 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. Thursday and saw anything unusual to contact him at (903) 654-4912.
“There is someone out there with a police assault rifle, and that is a scary thought,” he said.
Corsicana Police are continuing to investigate this burglary of a motor vehicle case.
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AJ Narasimhan may be contacted via e-mail at ajn@corsicanadailysun.com
