Texas kidnapping suspect arrested after multi-county pursuit

TEXAS (KXAN) — Law enforcement from multiple counties aided in catching a kidnapping suspect over the weekend.

The Milam County Sheriff's Office learned around 11 p.m. Saturday a pursuit that began in Bell County was about to cross over Milam County lines, officials said in a Tuesday release. The pursuit started with the Temple Police Department after police were notified about a reported kidnapping.

Temple police saw a man flee with a woman and baby inside the car, per the release. That man was later identified as Paul Rodriguez, 27.

The chase began in Temple before traveling through Rogers and Buckholts and then toward Cameron's western city limits, officials said. Law enforcement added Rodriguez's vehicle avoided "multiple spike attempts on US190" before driving through a field and stock pond.

Rodriguez allegedly fled the scene on foot with the woman and baby left inside the vehicle at the pond, officials said. Temple Police, the Milam County Sheriff's Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Parks and Wildlife all had personnel on scene to help in the search, alongside drone technology and thermal imaging cameras.

Law enforcement caught Rodriguez while he was allegedly trying to enter a house near CR 202, per the release.

"As he was being taken into custody, Rodriguez became unresponsive and had to be administered multiple doses of Narcan before American Medical Response could arrive on scene," the release read. "Rodriguez, who was taken to the hospital for treatment, was booked into Bell County Jail on Monday, February 19th, after being cleared from the hospital."

Law enforcement said he allegedly had several different drugs in his system at the time of his arrest, and he has since been charged with kidnapping, evading arrest in a vehicle and child endangerment, the release added.

Rodriguez was booked into the Bell County Jail, per jail records.

“Great cooperation between all agencies involved helped to rescue 2 victims following a kidnapping and pursuit that began in a neighboring county," Milam County Sheriff Mike Clore said in the release. "In addition, Milam County was able to bring in a drone with thermal imaging cameras that greatly assisted in the capture of the suspect involved. The drone is another tool in our toolbox that we can use to maintain public safety.”