On Friday, December 27th, Brewster County Dispatch received a report of a theft from a business in Marathon. The caller stated that an unknown individual left the store with several items and declared, “I won’t be paying for this s___!” before fleeing westward toward Alpine.
Deputies spotted the suspect’s vehicle near the 67/90 intersection and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. The driver refused to stop, prompting a pursuit that extended into Alpine, where Texas DPS and Alpine Police Department officers joined the effort.
The chase escalated as the suspect dodged stop sticks and drove recklessly through Alpine, swerving into oncoming traffic. Approximately four miles west of Alpine, Brewster County Sheriff Ronny Dodson disabled the vehicle’s rear tire with a shot from his 1911 pistol. Additional stop sticks deployed by deputies disabled two more tires.
The suspect’s vehicle ultimately struck another vehicle before coming to a stop. The driver, identified as Justin Gabriel Cristales, was taken into custody and charged with evading arrest with a motor vehicle, a third-degree felony.
Occupants of the uninvolved vehicle were evaluated by paramedics but did not require hospitalization. Authorities expressed gratitude to all assisting agencies, including Texas DPS, Alpine PD, and DPS Air Operations.
The incident remains under investigation.
