By Police1 Staff
HOUSTON — A suspect who opened fire on an officer before fleeing in the officer’s squad car was taken to the ground by Good Samaritans.
According to KHOU, an officer was flagged down by staff members of a small motel Wednesday about a man who they accused of loitering on the property.
As the officer confronted the suspect, 26-year-old Patrick Castro, he brandished a gun and opened fire on the officer, who returned fire.
Castro then fled in the officer’s patrol car before crashing into a tree three miles away.
Bystanders at the crash scene were then offered money from Castro to let him go as he staggered out of the vehicle.
“He pulled it out of his pocket and said I’ll give you money,” one bystander involved told KHOU. “I told him we didn’t want his money.”
The Good Samaritans then tackled the man to the ground and held him until police arrived at the scene.
Castro now faces multiple charges. The officer was not wounded in the shooting, according to the report.