Gun suspect pursued by HCSO deputy caught on Marine DVR

When a Harris County representative tried to stop the car for a routine stop on Tuesday, they got more than they bargained for.

The suspected smugglers tried to escape, but did not get far.

Tense moments captured on a veteran’s DVR.

It should have been an easy ride for Greg McDonald, but it turned into a ride he will never forget. Enough to raise the adrenaline levels of even a seasoned Marine.

“Yesterday was my wife’s birthday, so I was going to buy a custom cake,” McDonald said.

But on the way back, as he was driving westbound on Franz Road around 1:00 p.m., his dashcam caught a spectacular chase.

“In front of me, I noticed a car that made a U-turn right in front of Mason. [Road] goes in the other direction. And right behind him is a deputy sheriff’s car. Turn on the light, he said. “You’ve seen it a hundred times, traffic stops. [I] didn’t think about it.”

But this was no ordinary stop.

What happened next made MacDonald stop in his tracks.

“When I pull up, I look out of the corner of my eye and see the passenger door of the car swing open and this big old guy gets out and starts running with a purpose,” he said.

Video from a McDonald’s dash cam shows a police officer turning on the siren to chase the man. Then the situation becomes even more tense.

“I look down [and] I said, “That cat has a gun!” Big old 9mm or 45 and it just came out of nowhere. I’m just like frozen. It’s a good thing he didn’t come up to my car trying to steal me,” McDonald said.

Officials caught up with the driver of the gold sedan and the man seen running on foot and identified them as LeAndre Newsom, 28, and Adrian Melendez, 22.

Newsom was charged with evading arrest. Melendez faces the same charges related to possession of controlled substances and illegal possession of weapons.

No one was hurt during the wild ride.

“So, happy ending!” McDonald said.

Officials say they seized codeine, large quantities of hydrocodone, oxycodone, Xanax, a pound of marijuana, and fake weed.

They say they also found paraphernalia showing they intended to sell drugs.

At the last check, Melendez posted bail and Newsom was still in the Harris County Jail.