Full Notification

****UPDATED 5-5-12******The Randall County District Attorney’s Office has accepted four felony charges against Chad Alon Carpenter. The first three are aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Two charges stem from the shot fired that struck the vehicle containing two people. The third charge was filed on behalf of the motorcyclist that had been the victim of the earlier assault. That man, a WM 40 of Amarillo, reported that he had been southbound in the 3200 block of S. Western when the suspect vehicle was behind him and nearly struck him. The victim changed lanes to get out of the man’s way. Both stopped at the light at 34th and S. Western. After an exchange of words, the suspect produced a handgun and pointed it at him. The victim drove away and later contacted police about the incident. Prosecutors also accepted one charge of evading in a motor vehicle. Prosecutors in Potter County are reviewing the reports of events at the arrest scene to decide if additional charges are appropriate.
PREVIOUSLY POSTED TO NIXLE
On 4-30-12, at about 8:30 PM, officers were sent to the area of 45th and Western on a report that someone in a white truck had pointed a handgun at another person on a motorcycle. Officers did not locate the victim or suspect, but the caller had supplied the tag number and description of the vehicle. At about 9:30 PM, officers were sent to a restaurant in the 3600 block of SW 45th on a report that the driver in the same white truck with Oklahoma tags had pulled in front of another driver and stopped suddenly near 45th and Western, nearly causing a collision. The two people in the car that was cut off pulled up alongside white 2000 Ford Explorer at 45th and Virginia. While still in their cars, the parties exchanged words. The driver of the white Explorer produced a handgun and fired one shot. The shot struck the right front fender of the victim’s car. Officers found the bullet hole and also later located the spent .40 caliber cartridge casing in the street at the scene of the shooting. The suspect drove away and the two men in the other car called the police. The victims followed the suspect to a convenience store at 45th and Maverick. By the time the suspect walked out of the store, an officer had arrived and attempted to take the man into custody at gunpoint. The suspect reached toward his waistband, then got into his car and initiated a pursuit by driving away southbound on Western. The officer lost sight of the vehicle near Catalpa and S. Western. Shortly after this, the vehicle was sighted near IH-27 and Georgia. Officers again tried to try to stop the car but the driver sped away. The pursuit continued south and west and was discontinued as the suspect drove into the area of 45th and Bell. When the suspect was seen turning westbound on Arden from Bell, the officers again tried to stop the car. The suspect vehicle continued to Coulter and then south to the Loop. It then followed the Loop west and then north. Officers set up tire spikes at Hillside and Soncy and were able to puncture three of the suspect’s tires. The suspect slowed but continued north to IH-40. Officers blocked traffic near IH-40 and Coulter, and also prepared to block traffic on Bell Street. The suspect, now driving on three rims, turned eastbound on the frontal road. The suspect vehicle drove up over a curb and stopped just west of Bell Street. The driver got out, ignored officer’s commands to stop, and began walking away. Officers tackled the man. He resisted the officer’s efforts to arrest and transport him and officers used a TASER to gain control of the suspect. Officers found a loaded .40 caliber semiautomatic pistol in the front of the suspect’s pants. Both DPS and Randall County deputies assisted in the pursuit and arrest. The suspect, Chad Alon Carpenter WM 33 of Glenpool, Oklahoma, was transported to the Randall County Jail. He was booked on preliminary charges of two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, evading in a motor vehicle, resisting arrest, unlawfully carrying a weapon, and two counts of assault on a public servant.