From Tyler County Sheriff Bryan Weatherford – On Tuesday, June 22 at approximately 10:30 am, The Tyler County Sheriff’s Office was advised Hardin County Deputies were in pursuit of a BMW passenger car on Highway 69. While enroute, Deputies learned that the pursuit originated in the City of Orange, traveling through Jefferson and Hardin Counties, and ended on a private road just inside Tyler County.
The driver/suspect fled on foot into a wooded area near the Tyler/Hardin County Line. Agencies, including the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office, Hardin County Sheriff’s Office, Orange Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety and ATF were quickly able to secure a perimeter around the wooded area. Texas Department of Criminal Justice K-9 Units from Livingston and Dayton were successful in tracking the suspect and at approximately 2:00 pm the suspect was arrested.
The suspect was identified as Gregory Sawin, age 45 of Denver, Colorado. Sawin was wanted in Colorado for a Parole Violation. Sawin was transported to the Orange County Jail where he will face additional charges
Previous story: Law enforcement officers have taken into custody a man who led them on a chase Tuesday morning from Orange County into Hardin County and eventually Tyler County before he bailed out and ran into a wooded area.
Tyler County Sheriff Bryan Weatherford confirms the man was taken into custody at about 2:30 p.m. Investigators say he bailed out of his car off Highway 69 just south of Warren and ran down a private road into a wooded area. Officers took him into custody there. Tyler, Hardin and Orange County Sheriff’s deputies, along with DPS, ATF and a TDCJ K-9, were involved in the manhunt.
The pursuit began in Orange County and continued through Jefferson and Orange Counties, following reports of a suicidal subject. Vidor Police Chief Rod Carroll says at times, the suspect was traveling 100-120 mph. Carroll says his officers backed off because of the danger the suspect posed to other drivers and the public.
