Man Arrested After Assaulting, Fleeing State Trooper

Samuel Pereira Mendoza, 27, is now is custody facing multiple charges

A Texas Department of Public Safety patrolman shot at a fleeing vehicle Thursday morning, after being assaulted, a DPS spokesman said.

The man, 27-year-old Samuel Pereira Mendoza, was seen speeding on the Dallas North Tollway by the trooper at about 2:30 a.m.

Mendoza stopped along Northwest Highway and Hathaway. When the trooper walked up to the car to talk to Mendoza, he "developed suspicion" that Mendoza was drunk, said DPS spokesman Trooper Lonny Haschel.

Mendoza began assaulting the trooper, hitting him with the trooper's flashlight. The trooper tried using pepper spray and a Taser, but wasn't successful.

That's when Mendoza took off and the trooper opened fire. He shot out two tires and hit the vehicle's bumper, Haschel said.

Mendoza gave up at Preston Lane and Park Lane and was arrested.

The trooper has facial injuries and was checked out at a local hospital.

No one else was injured.

Mendoza is now facing charges of driving while intoxicated, aggravated assault on a police officer, and evading arrest.

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