Hockley County Vehicle Pursuit ends in Arrest of two Suspects

A late night vehicle pursuit out of Hockley County ended in a multi-jurisdictional pursuit for two suspects. On Thursday, December 1, a Levelland Police officer was in a high speed pursuit of a vehicle in Levelland until it attempted to evade the chasing officer at the intersection of West Avenue and State Highway 114.

Deputies from the Hockley County Sheriff's Office were soon dispatched to aid in apprehending the vehicle and discovered it stopped west of College Avenue on State Highway 114. Deputies did attempt to conduct a routine traffic stop but the driver sped off eastbound on State Highway 114, eventually reaching speeds over 100 miles per hour.

KAMC news reported that one of the suspects in the speeding vehicle then opened fire at the lead deputy in pursuit. Soon after the speeding vehicle was rendered disabled near State Highway 114 and Quail Road causing the two suspects to abandon the vehicle and flee on foot. After other police agencies were dispatched to help set up a perimeter of the area before the vehicle passenger suspect, identified as 33-year-old Leopoldo Martinez, was arrested after a taser deployment.

The second suspect, identified as 22-year-old Leroy Martinez, was the driver of the vehicle and was arrested in a field just between State Highway 114 and Armadillo Road without further incident. After further investigation of the scene police discovered a firearm along with a bullet-proof vest belonging to the suspects. Both men are currently being held in the Hockley County Sheriff's with Martinez on a $210,000 bond and Villarreal on a $105,000 bond.

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