TEXARKANA, Texas — A 21-year-old man was arrested Saturday evening after allegedly causing a disturbance at a restaurant, threatening police officers and leading officers on a foot chase that ended inside a convenience store, according to the Texarkana Texas Police Department.
Police said officers were dispatched to a restaurant in the 200 block of West Seventh Street after receiving reports that Jason Mitchell allegedly became upset while working and began trying to pick fights with coworkers and customers. Before officers arrived, Mitchell reportedly left the business on foot. The restaurant’s manager requested that he be banned from the property, police said.
Suspect spotted
According to the department, Officer Blake Lummus spotted Mitchell a short time later near the intersection of West Seventh Street and Wake Village Road. Police said Mitchell allegedly ran when Officer Lummus attempted to speak with him and yelled that he was going to kill officers as he fled.
The foot pursuit ended inside the Roadrunner convenience store, police said. Officer Lummus deployed one round from a JPX pepper gun, but police said it appeared to have little immediate effect. Officer John McFaul then arrived to assist and fired a second round, which police said was effective.
Police said Mitchell was cornered at the back of the store and taken into custody without further incident.
Mitchell was transported to the Bi-State Jail, where he was booked on a charge of evading detention, according to the Texarkana Texas Police Department.
The department also apologized in its social media post to customers who were inside the convenience store during the incident, saying they were unexpectedly caught in the middle of the police pursuit.
The charge against Mitchell is an accusation, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.