Two people are in custody and police are searching for another who led officers on an erratic and dangerous wrong-way pursuit through Dallas County Wednesday afternoon in a stolen pickup truck.
NBC 5 has learned the pursuit of the driver and a passenger in a maroon pickup truck began at about 1:45 p.m. in Dallas when a police helicopter spotted a stolen pickup truck. The helicopter followed the vehicle and officers were directed to the area, though Dallas Police said none of their patrol vehicles were involved in the pursuit.
Seagoville Police said the Dallas police helicopter alerted them at 2:23 p.m. that the driver of the stolen truck had gone to a convenience store in their city.
As Seagoville officers responded, the driver of the stolen truck left and began driving the wrong way down the access road to U.S. Highway 175. That's where Texas Sky Ranger picked up the pursuit and from there the driver worked north toward Interstate 635 and Interstate 20, often driving erratically into oncoming traffic.
The driver then went toward downtown before heading southeast toward Balch Springs.
Police said as an officer pursued the stolen maroon truck, the driver of a tan-colored pickup swerved at them in an apparent attempt to interfere and assist the other driver.
While on U.S. 175 near Elam Road the truck spun out and the tan truck pulled up and stopped. Two people got out of the maroon truck, got into the tan-colored truck, and drove away.
A dog that appeared to have been left behind was seen running away from the abandoned truck. NBC 5 reached out to law enforcement for an update on the dog's whereabouts and condition and has not yet heard back.
Meanwhile, Seagoville Police said they discontinued the pursuit after the driver of the tan truck entered the eastbound access road to U.S. 175 driving the wrong way and "displaying dangerous and aggressive actions."
The driver of the tan-colored truck headed back into Dallas and exited the paved roadway around Seagoville Road and Interstate 20, speeding into a wooded area where it apparently got stuck.
Three people were seen running from the vehicle, two of whom have since been taken into custody. Police searched the wooded area for the third person but he was never located.
On Thursday, Dallas Police identified the two people arrested Wednesday afternoon as 32-year-old Esequiel Hernandez and 28-year-old Sara Sarabia.
Records show both Hernandez and Sarabia were being held in the Dallas County Jail on charges of engaging in organized criminal activity and that Hernandez faced an additional charge of evading arrest. Hernandez is being held on bonds totaling $45,000 while Sarabia is being held on a bond of $25,000.
Police have not yet released the name of the third person who ran from the truck and who remains at large.
Last Thursday a driver led Dallas Police on a chase before switching vehicles and getting into a waiting SUV. The driver of the SUV stopped outside a daycare and two men ran inside. They were arrested by police a short time later.
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