Harlingen Man Arrested After Attempting to Seize Deputy’s Taser During Struggle

On Tuesday, October 1, 2024, at approximately 11:13 p.m., Cameron County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to reports of a suspicious vehicle in the area of Paloma Lane in Harlingen, Texas. The vehicle’s occupant was allegedly pulling into residential driveways and checking garages.

Upon arriving at the location, deputies located the suspicious vehicle and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. However, the driver, later identified as 36-year-old Christopher Menchaca, failed to stop and instead drove into a residence on the 27000 block of Paloma Lane.

Deputies were unable to make immediate contact with Menchaca but conducted further investigations, which revealed that he had two outstanding warrants for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Marijuana, as well as a burglary warrant from San Benito Police Department.

Deputies approached the residence where Menchaca had entered, attempting to make contact with him. During the encounter, deputies observed Menchaca holding a knife and running toward the back of the house. A struggle ensued as deputies pursued him, during which he resisted arrest and attempted to seize one deputy’s Taser.

Menchaca was ultimately subdued and arrested. He was booked into the Carrizales-Rucker Detention Center for his outstanding warrants and is also pending charges from San Benito Police Department related to the burglary warrant.