Houston Police Department

July 3, 2006 -- Charges have been filed against a suspect who fled in a vehicle from Harris County Sheriff's deputies at 1200 Baker Street about 6:45 p.m. on Saturday (July 1).

The suspect, Guillermo Thomas Ortiz (h/m, DOB: 3/12/68), has been charged in the 179th State District Court with felony evading arrest in a motor vehicle.

HPD Homicide Division Officers M. Walker and T. Hufstedler reported:

The suspect entered a Harris County Sheriff's Department jail facility to visit a prisoner and one of the deputies conducted a criminal background inquiry on him. After learning the suspect had a warrant, deputies attempted to detain him but he managed to run to a vehicle he had parked outside the facility. Deputies followed the suspect outside as he entered his vehicle and approached him from either side. The suspect put the vehicle in reverse while deputies followed on foot. One of the deputies, fearing the vehicle was going to strike him, fired a shot at the front tire. The suspect managed to flee the scene in a white four-door sports utility vehicle and is wanted at this time.

Anyone with information regarding Guillermo Thomas Ortiz's whereabouts is asked to call the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

GO/JFC 7-3-06
Inc #101734706

For additional information, please contact the HPD Public Affairs Division a 713-308-3200.