Father’s Day Chaos: Amarillo Driver Flees Cops, Hides in Stranger’s Home

It was a very busy Father's Day in Amarillo. Many wrecks and criminal activities occurred over the weekend.  Several of these activities were caught on video.

One criminal activity in particular started off with a stolen car.

Chaotic Father's Day Police Chase in Amarillo

On Sunday, June 15th, the Amarillo Police Department responded to a call at 11:40 am about a stolen vehicle at 34th and Western.  Officers were searching the area and found it traveling northbound on Western, near Chama.  APD tried to stop the car, but that's when the driver began to evade law enforcement.

After losing sight of the car at 16th and Kentucky, the suspect drove through a parking garage and tried to run over an officer.  And by the looks of this video, the suspect drove through a tennis court, though not officially mentioned in the police report.

Suspect Crashes and Flees Into Neighborhood

The crashed vehicle was abandoned in the 1500 block of Kentucky, where the suspect ran into a house.  That residence belonged to Amarillo resident Sandra McCartt. Sandra shared her full account on her Facebook page, but here is an excerpt.

Sandra McCartt’s First-Hand Account of the Intruder

Something is in here, it has two legs and has lost a shoe in the dining room. Hard right to my room, grab my rifle, flip off the safety. Now i am madder than a rabid rattlesnake on hot asphalt. Rifle ready, I turn the doorknob, ready to make a mess of the guest room. Bam, the door is blocked, bed has been pushed in front of the door....

My phone rings, i decide to answer before i start shooting. My neighbor is frantically telling me some lunatic has driven through the chain link fence on both sides of the tennis court, hit my dumpster...car is on fire. Police are in the alley and think the driver may be in my backyard. In my most lethal, gracious mode i respond, “the bastard is not in my yard, he is barricaded in my guest bedroom and i am about to start shooting through the freaking door, tell the cops i’ve got him cornered.” My neighbor sez, “Get the cops, open your garage.” Well, ok, I just redid this room. Blood stains are a mess

You can read Sandra's full account here.

Read More: Owner Devastated After Saddles Stolen from Barn in Randall County

Officers were able to take 37-year-old Aaron Walling into custody after he tried to escape through a window in McCartt's home. He was booked into the Potter County Jail for evading in a vehicle, aggravated assault against a Peace Officer, driving while intoxicated, and criminal trespass of a habitation.

This wasn't Walling's first run-in with the APD.  Walling was arrested in October 2024 for burglary.

Read More: Texas Police Codes Everyone Should Know for Safety

Amarillo Police Request Public Assistance in Father's Day Chase

The Amarillo Police Department is still investigating and is asking for the public's help.  If you happened to catch any video of this crime, the APD encourages you to share those with them here.