REAL COUNTY, Texas — UPDATE: The Real County Sheriff confirmed on Monday that after eluding authorities for a week, Dustin Whitlock has been taken into custody in Kerr County.
According to a Facebook post by Sheriff Nathan T. Johnson, officers received a tip that the suspect was holed up in a shed on the outskirts of Ingram. Officers from the Ingram Police Department and others surrounded the suspect around 5:15 p.m. He was armed, but gave himself up to authorities without incident after about an hour.
Original Story:
29-year-old Dustin Whitlock, a Texas Registered Sex Offender, is accused of firing on a Uvalde County deputy on February 23 before escaping.
“He’s a danger to law enforcement because he demonstrated he does not want to be taken into custody,” said Real County Sheriff Nathan Johnson.
Saturday night, authorities said a Uvalde County Sheriff’s Deputy tried to pull over Whitlock for a minor traffic violation.
Whitlock pulled over, but then fled, leaving police on a high-speed chase into Real County.
Johnson said Whitlock ran into a tree off Slay Road just outside of Leakey, then got out of his truck and began shooting at the deputy.
“The suspect eventually went forward towards the river, and escaped down that direction,” said Johnson.
Officials said Whitlock used a handgun to shoot at the deputy, but investigators found an assault rifle and drugs left behind in his truck.
“Thankfully, he did not get the rifle out and engage the officer with a rifle, or it might have had a different outcome,” said Johnson.
Johnson said with limited resources in Real County, officers from nine different agencies are helping in the intense manhunt.
He said with over 1,000 square miles of rough terrain, and empty vacation homes, Whitlock could be hiding anywhere.
“We're not quite to spring break yet, which is when our tourist season really kicks off. So, a lot of empty houses, a lot of places he could go,” said Johnson.
Johnson said Whitlock lives in the area, and knows the rugged terrain well.
The Sheriff said authorities believe Whitlock is not a danger to the public but is a danger to law enforcement.
“Going into these dense woods after an armed suspect is a very tenuous situation, and very, very hazardous for law enforcement,” said Johnson.
Whitlock is facing three felony charges including the Attempted Capital Murder of a Peace Officer.