Suspect Takes Amarillo Police On Foot Chase

During a routine traffic stop, an Amarillo Police motorcycle officer pulled over a vehicle occupied by a man with an outstanding felony warrant.  Even after being placed in handcuffs, the suspect led officers on a foot chase through Amarillo, managed to injure an officer during a struggle, but was ultimately apprehended in the end.

Amarillo Police

"On Tuesday February 17th, at approximately 12:24pm, an APD Motorcycle officer stopped a vehicle for expired registration and an expired inspection sticker in the 300 block of Amarillo Blvd East (Taco Bell parking lot). The officer approached the driver, identified him and explained the reason for the stop. The officer went back to his motorcycle and checked the driver for any outstanding warrants. He was advised that the driver who was identified as Chad Michael Richards W/M 34 had an outstanding felony warrant out of Gray County for theft over $100,000; another Gray County warrant for felony bond surrender; and a Potter County class B theft warrant. Richards was then removed from the vehicle and placed in handcuffs and seated on the curb. The motorcycle officers called for a marked unit to transport the individual and began identifying the other three occupants of the motor vehicle. As the officers were identifying the other occupants the vehicle, Richards had slipped the handcuffs around to the front of him, got up and taken off running north towards Amarillo Blvd. One motorcycle officer began a foot chase with the suspect while a second officer stayed with the other occupants and the car. The officer chased Richards across Amarillo Blvd, behind CVS at the corner of Amarillo Blvd East and Pierce, and then east bound across N. Buchanan on NE 9th. APD Detectives responded to the area to assist in locating Richards. One detective observed Richards running in the area of 800 block of N Lincoln and also ran on foot after the suspect. Eventually officers caught up with Richards and attempted to regain control of him by re-handcuffing him with his hands behind his back again. While doing so, Richards was kicking officers in attempt to get away, injuring one officer. The officer was later transported to a local hospital with separated shoulder. Richards was then secured in the back seat of a marked patrol car. An inventory of the motor vehicle revealed numerous pieces of identifying information (i.e. DL’s, SS cards, Credit Cards and personal checks). The pieces of identifying information appear to steam from some recent auto burglaries that occurred in SW Amarillo. Richards was transported and booked into Potter County on the 3 outstanding warrants as well as Aggravated Assault on a Peace Officer, Escape from Custody, Fraudulent use or Possession of Identifying information."