A Tom Green County jury found a 52-year-old San Angelo woman guilty of felony evading with a motor vehicle this week.
According to a press release from the office of 119th Judicial District Attorney John Best's office, on the evening of Dec. 12, 2018, Tom Green County Sheriff’s Deputy Ian Rook tried to conduct a traffic stop on a pickup truck for speeding on FM 2105 near Grape Creek Road.
Despite Rook’s use of overhead emergency lights and siren, the driver of the truck did not stop, continuing onto US Hwy 87N, toward Grape Creek at speeds of up to 90 mph. During the pursuit, Rook observed the truck swerve from the right-hand lane to the left-hand lane multiple times as other vehicles on the highway yielded to the pursuing deputy’s emergency lights and siren.
When the truck reached the intersection of 87N and Beaumont Street, it appeared to be stopping at an abandoned building, but then accelerated northbound on Beaumont near the State Supported Living Center at speeds in excess of 50 mph. The driver of the truck turned right onto 14th Street in Carlsbad, ran a stop sign, nearly colliding with another oncoming vehicle, before coming to a stop in front of a gate at the intersection of 14th and Marshall streets.
Instead of exiting the vehicle as ordered by Rook, the defendant, Grothe, put the truck in reverse and struck Rook’s patrol vehicle. When she was subsequently taken into custody, Rook observed a large plastic cup between her legs, which she later admitted contained whiskey. When asked why she didn’t stop when she saw Rook’s patrol unit’s lights and heard his siren, the defendant stated, “because I was not breaking the law,” according to the release.
In addition to admitting that she had “one drink” that evening, the defendant advised that she had taken several prescription medications earlier in the day.
Grothe was subsequently arrested for felony evading with a motor vehicle and misdemeanor driving while intoxicated. A Tom Green County grand jury indicted her for evading with a motor vehicle and the case proceeded to trial on Oct. 22, 2019.
The jury found Grothe guilty of evading with a motor vehicle. During the punishment phase of the trial, the State offered evidence of the defendant’s prior conviction in 2018 for the misdemeanor offense of driving while intoxicated.
Grothe asked the jury to recommend probation. The State asked the jury to assess punishment based upon the danger the defendant posed by her conduct to both the community and the deputies involved.
The jury did not recommend probation and assessed punishment at two years confinement in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice-Institutional Division.
Comment from John Best, 119th D.A.:
"Fleeing from the police endangers the lives of the community, the officers involved, and the defendant. It’s the wrong choice to make under any circumstance. Based upon the facts of this case, the jury determined that the defendant’s behavior warranted confinement in the penitentiary. Hopefully, anyone considering fleeing from law enforcement will recognize this potential consequence before making the dangerous and reckless decision to flee."
