HOUSTON, Texas– A man was found dead in Buffalo Bayou after attempting to escape Houston police officers.
According to Assistant Chief Luis Menendez-Sierra of the Houston Police Department, the officers attempted to pull over a black Kia Sorrento when the driver chose to flee, leading police on a chase through the city and into the Second Ward area.
During the pursuit, the driver attempted to escape by jumping into Buffalo Bayou.
However, he did not survive the endeavor. Emergency services responded to the scene, where they recovered the man’s body from the water. Investigations are ongoing to ascertain the circumstances surrounding his death.
The chase started around 2 a.m. when officers noticed a black Kia Sorrento behaving suspiciously.
The Houston Fire Department confirmed receiving a 911 call reporting a man had jumped into the bayou.
The identity of the deceased has not been released as authorities are notifying next of kin.
The investigation is focusing on the reasons behind the initial traffic stop, the driver’s decision to flee, and whether there were any contributing factors to his death.