TAYLOR COUNTY, Texas — A man wanted on a felony warrant for arson crashed into an Abilene home, causing it to catch fire Tuesday, the Taylor County Sheriff's Office said.
On Tuesday, TCSO Narcotics and Warrants Division deputies received information about the possible location of a wanted person.
The man was wanted on a first-degree felony arson case from the Abilene Fire Department. Narcotics agents saw the suspect, Benjamin Hulsey, 42, in a SUV in the alley in the 5300 block of Durango in Abilene.
Deputies tried to block Hulsey in the alley, but he sped away from them. A marked TCSO vehicle tried to make a vehicle stop, but Hulsey alluded him and sped east on South 7th Street.
When the deputy turned onto South 7th Street, Hulsey was already several blocks ahead of him. The deputy saw Hulsey leave the roadway and hit a house at the corner of South 7th and Hawthorne streets.
The SUV caught fire and deputies had to break out the back window to rescue Hulsey, who was unconscious. Two deputies had minor injuries from the broken glass.
Hulsey was taken to the hospital with injuries and was in stable condition Wednesday morning, the TCSO said.
The fire caused by the crash spread to the house and caused substantial damage to the structure. One person and their dog occupied the house without injuries.
Hulsey will be charged with the following offenses and the outstanding warrants when he is released from the hospital:
- Third-degree felony evading arrest with a vehicle
- State jail felony possession of methamphetamines
Taylor County/Abilene Fire Department warrants:
- First-degree felony arson - $100,000 bond
- Class B misdemeanor insurance fraud - $1,000 bond
New Mexico warrants:
- Fraudulent use of credit card - $5,000 cash bond
- Fail to comply with conditions of probation for larceny and receiving stolen property - $4,100 cash bond
- Fail to comply with conditions of probation for fines for falsely obtaining services - $217 cash bond
- Failure to appear - $1,000 cash bond
The Abilene Fire Department responded to the fire scene and the Abilene Police Department is investigating the vehicle crash.
