CONROE, Texas — A 31-year-old man was arrested Tuesday, October 20, after a license plate recognition camera alerted Conroe police to a stolen vehicle near North Loop 336 West, authorities said.
Tomas Perez was charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and evading arrest or detention, both state jail felonies, according to the Conroe Police Department.
Police said the incident began when a Flock license plate recognition camera generated an automated alert for a stolen vehicle in the area of North Loop 336 West.
Officers responded to the alert and located a black Nissan Rogue parked and unoccupied in a lot near the 1200 block of North Loop 336 West.
According to police, officers watched the vehicle from a distance and saw a man later identified as Perez approach the Nissan and rummage through its interior.
Officers then approached in marked patrol vehicles with their emergency lights activated and ordered Perez to exit the vehicle, the department said.
Perez got out of the Nissan but fled on foot, prompting officers to pursue him. Police said officers caught up with him and detained him after a brief chase. The arrest was completed without further incident, according to the department.
Two Felony Charges Filed
Following the investigation, Perez was arrested on two charges:
- Unauthorized use of a motor vehicle: A state jail felony.
- Evading arrest or detention: A state jail felony.
The Nissan Rogue was recovered, police said.
The department credited the camera alert and officers’ coordinated response with helping them locate the stolen vehicle and take the suspect into custody.
“This is another great example of our officers effectively utilizing technology to gather valuable intelligence and take proactive action,” the Conroe Police Department said in a statement. “Their quick response and coordinated efforts led to the safe recovery of a stolen vehicle and the arrest of a suspect.”
License plate recognition cameras can alert law enforcement when a vehicle’s license plate matches information in a stolen-vehicle database. In this case, the alert directed officers to the Nissan, where they later encountered Perez, according to the department’s account.
The department did not provide additional details about the vehicle’s original theft in the information available for this report.
Perez’s arrest and the charges against him are allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
