For Immediate Release
April 8, 2011

Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg today released the following statement:

Today Travis County Grand Jurors completed their review of an incident in which a Pflugerville police officer shot and wounded the 16 year old driver of a stolen SUV during a high speed pursuit through a residential area of town. The Grand Jury voted to take no action.

The incident began just after noon on May 7th, 2010 when a Pflugerville police officer saw the SUV roll through a stop sign. The officer got behind the vehicle and turned on his lights and siren, but the vehicle sped up and refused to stop. Another officer joined the pursuit, which wound through several streets in a residential neighborhood in the southern part of Pflugerville. The pursuing officers saw the SUV hit two other vehicles during the pursuit.

Officer Aaron Cawthon, who was in another part of town, began moving in the direction of the pursuit. Officer Cawthon stopped his patrol car in an intersection with the intent of putting out a device designed to deflate the tires of fleeing vehicles. Before he could do that, the SUV turned onto the street, and according to witnesses, began speeding toward Officer Cawthon, who pulled his weapon and fired three shots at the driver. The 16 year old driver was shot through the shoulder and the bullet then lodged in his head. He was taken to the hospital and underwent surgery to remove the bullet. He was released from the hospital after five days. Another passenger in the stolen vehicle was not injured.

The incident was investigated by Texas Ranger Garth Davis, with assistance from the Travis County Sheriff’s Office.

The driver of the SUV, his passenger, Officer Cawthon and three other officers from the Pflugerville Police Department testified before the Grand Jury. The Grand Jury also spoke with Charles Hooker, the chief of the Pflugerville Police Department.

To date, no charges have been filed against the driver of the SUV who was wounded or his passenger.

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