Arlington

Clay County Deputy Shooting Suspect Arrested in Arlington After Foot Chase on I-20

Sheriff says deputy OK, recovering after being shot in the vest late Monday night

Clay County Sheriff's Office

What to Know

  • Statewide Blue Alert was issued for the driver who shot a Clay County sheriff's deputy Monday night near Wichita Falls.
  • Deputy was shot in his bulletproof vest; released from the hospital.
  • Gunman's white Cadillac was found early Tuesday; the gunman was arrested Wednesday morning in Arlington.

The man Clay County Sheriff Jeffrey Lyde says shot a deputy during a traffic stop Monday night was arrested by Arlington police Wednesday morning following a foot chase on Interstate 20.

Lyde said on Facebook Wednesday morning that Arlington SWAT officers had cornered and arrested Joshua Lee Green in connection with the shooting of deputy Breanton Chitwood.

Lyde said Arlington police had tracked Green to a hotel in the area and arrested him after he tried to run across the freeway to escape capture.

"As of right now, Joshua Lee Green, of Arlington, Texas, is in custody on his way to be magistrated and we are accusing him of aggravated assault of a peace officer," Lyde said Wednesday.

In his video post, Lyde said he was grateful to the multiple officers and agencies who worked together to catch the suspected gunman.

"We had no idea who he was and 38 hours later he's in handcuffs," Lyde said. "That is just a testament to the great work of Texas law enforcement when we come together to solve something down here in Texas. You shoot one of our police officers and we are going to chase you and we are not going to stop."

Arlington police confirmed to NBC 5 late Wednesday morning a multi-agency team, including members of their fugitive unit, located Green, 31, at a local hotel and took him into custody after a short chase.

"We're proud of the joint effort between our local, state, and federal partners to get the suspect in custody -- and we wish the deputy a speedy recovery," Arlington police said in a statement.

A statewide Blue Alert was issued Monday night after a Clay County sheriff’s deputy was shot during an attempted traffic stop Monday night southeast of Wichita Falls.

Chitwood was shot once in the chest Monday night during an attempted traffic stop. Lyde said Chitwood pulled over the driver of a Cadillac STS that "was displaying a license plate for a vehicle that was not the Cadillac" and that as he approached the vehicle someone inside began shooting.

Chitwood was hit once in his bulletproof vest and was able to return fire, Lyde said. Chitwood tried to pursue the fleeing driver but had to pull over because the bullet shattered his microphone sending shrapnel into his face.

Law enforcement from the surrounding area tried to set up a perimeter to catch the gunman, but he slipped away and a statewide Blue Alert was issued.

Monday night, Lyde went on Facebook Live multiple times to report the shooting and to show Chitwood in the hospital with a bruise on his chest from where his vest protected him from the round.

The next morning, Wichita Falls police found the Cadillac abandoned in a parking lot, but there was no clear evidence shared publicly that identified who had been driving the car.

Wednesday morning, Lyde announced Green's arrest but didn't say what led police to develop him as the suspect in the officer's shooting.

joshua lee green mugshot
NBC 5 News
Joshua Lee Green, 31, was arrested on Aug. 18, 2021, in Arlington. He's accused of shooting a Clay County deputy on Aug. 16 and is expected to be charged with aggravated assault against a peace officer.

A reward of $10,000 had been offered for information in the case, $5,000 from Wichita Falls Crime Stoppers, and $5,000 from the Clay County Sheriff's Department. It's not clear if a tip led to the arrest and if a reward will be paid.

Lyde, who is expected to give another briefing Wednesday afternoon, said Green will be extradited to Clay County where he will stand trial. He does not yet have a bond amount and it's not clear if he's obtained an attorney.

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