Sheriff praises good police work, tech

WINNIE– Chambers County Sheriff Brian Hawthorne is praising deputies and the use of technology that quickly led to a suspect evading authorities last week.

On Thursday, July 31, deputies were alerted to a driver who was possibly driving impaired while hauling a trailer with a flat tire, according to a news release on the CCSO Facebook page.

Deputies were able to locate the driver heading westbound on Interstate 10 near mile marker 829 when they initiated a traffic stop. The vehicle, reportedly driven by Giovanni Villaboz of Damon, “slow-rolled” to a stop, before jumping out of the vehicle and fleeing into a cornfield near FM 1410.

The CCSO was able to deploy its drone unit and locate the man lying near a canal in the cornfield. According to the report, deputies were able to move in and take Villaboz into custody without any further incident.

The vehicle driven by the suspect had been reported stolen from Houston, while the trailer and equipment being hauled had been reported stolen from Vidor a short time before the arrest.

Villaboz was said to have been wearing an ankle monitor and had an active warrant for assault at the time of his arrest.

The suspect was booked into the Chambers County Jail on charges of evading arrest and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

“I’m thankful for both the citizens who reported this vehicle and my deputies for their quick response. This incident highlights the importance of working together with the community and how our growing use of technology helps us bring these situations to a safe and successful conclusion,” Hawthorne said.

Footage of the stop, including the use of the drone in the search and arrest, can be viewed on the CCSO Facebook page.