Pursuit Ends with Arrest of Stolen Corvette Driver After 16-Mile Chase and Foot Evade

Early Monday morning, August 12th, at approximately 1:00 a.m., Humble night shift officers were alerted by a license plate reader to a stolen license plate on a red Corvette entering the city. The vehicle was detected traveling southbound on US Hwy 59 near Will Clayton Parkway.

Officers were able to spot the Corvette and initiated a traffic stop. The driver, a male in his late 20s with a medium build and wearing a black hoodie, refused to pull over, prompting officers to pursue the vehicle. The pursuit continued for about 16 miles, reaching speeds of up to 100 mph.

The driver eventually exited the freeway at an industrial area, abandoned the Corvette, and fled on foot. A Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Airship, equipped with a spotlight, tracked the suspect as he ran through a wooded area near the 2000 block of Northpark Drive. The illumination from the spotlight led to the suspect’s surrender.

Upon further investigation, officers confirmed that the Corvette was stolen, with the original report of the vehicle theft registered in Houston two days prior. The suspect, identified as 28-year-old James Taylor, was arrested and charged with Felony Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. Taylor had multiple prior offenses related to theft and vehicle crimes.