High-speed chase ends in driver’s death

By Jay Ermis
Managing Editor

June 20, 2008 02:18 am

— A 21-year-old Brenham man died from a gunshot wound after leading law enforcement officers from Montgomery and Walker counties on a high-speed chase late Thursday afternoon.
The pursuit of Casey F. Brunette began in Montgomery County around 5 p.m. and ended in Huntsville at Janes Asphalt and Concrete Paving, 615 16th St., off Sycamore Drive where Brunette rammed his Chevrolet pickup truck into a deputy constable’s vehicle.
Lt. Dan Norris, public information officer for the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, said it was not known if Brunette was shot by police officers or if it was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
“That is under investigation,” he said.
Brunette was taken to Huntsville Memorial Hospital and then airlifted to a Houston hospital.
He was pronounced dead as the result of a gunshot wound, according to Norris.
It was not known where Brunette died.
One Montgomery County Sheriff's Office vehicle was struck by gunfire during the chase and the deputy was seriously injured from shattered glass in his eyes. He was taken to a Houston hospital.
The patrol car was hit by gunfire at least three times and a second car was hit by gunfire.
Three Montgomery County Precinct 1 deputy constables received minor injuries. They were treated and released from a local hospital.
Norris said their injuries were not as a result of gunfire, but could have occurred from glass or some other type of injury.
During the chase through Huntsville on Sam Houston Avenue, Brunette’s truck struck and ripped off the front bumper of a four-door Park Avenue at the intersection of Sam Houston Avenue and 19th Street, adjacent to Sam Houston Memorial Museum.
The driver of the car, Sam Houston State University assistant basketball coach, Jamene Caldwell, was not injured.
Norris said just before 5 p.m. Tuesday the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office dispatch aired via police radio an “Attempt to Locate” for a maroon extended-cab pickup truck.
He said the reason for locating the truck was unknown.
“A Montgomery Sheriff’s Office deputy located the vehicle on Farm-to-Market Road 1097 as it traveled east into Willis,” Norris said. “Two Montgomery County Precinct 1 deputy constables also identified the vehicle and initiated a pursuit as the truck traveled north toward Huntsville.”
Norris said Brunette shot out the back window of his truck and began firing gunshots at the pursuing law enforcement vehicles prior to entering Walker County.
Norris said he did not know if officers returned gunfire while pursuing Brunette because of the number of law enforcement agencies involved and officers who were injured.
When entering Walker County, the Walker County Sheriff’s Office and Department of Public Safety troopers joined in the pursuit followed by Huntsville and Sam Houston State University police when Brunette made his way to south Sam Houston Avenue.
Norris said Brunette shot at law enforcement vehicles several times throughout the pursuit.
Brunette exited I-45 at the Goree Unit exit, staying on state Highway 75 South into Huntsville at a high rate of speed.
Brunette struck the Park Avenue turning left onto 19th Street, knocking off the car’s front bumper.
He traveled north on Sam Houston Avenue, turning right onto 11th Street and state Highway 30 at the Walker County Courthouse.
Brunette traveled east to Sycamore Drive where he turned right, and took another right on 16th Street that came to a dead end at Janes Asphalt and Concrete Paving.
Norris said Brunette exchanged gunfire with officers at the location.
His Chevrolet pickup truck came to a halt when it struck a deputy constable’s vehicle as he apparently tried to escape the area.
Norris said it was not know what type of gun Brunette was firing nor if he had more than one firearm.
No additional information was available late Tuesday night.
The DPS and Texas Rangers are continuing their investigation into the pursuit and the gunfire.