Dramatic Houston Chase Ends with Suspect Shot, Sergeant Injured

On May 25, 2025, off-duty Houston Police Officers were working an extra employment job at a business in the 5000 block of Westheimer when they were alerted that a suspect vehicle, described as a blue Nissan Versa, was in the area and had recently been involved in a jugging, or predatory theft, incident at the at the location. One HPD Sergeant and two officers located the suspect vehicle and attempted to stop it to make contact with the driver. Before the officers could reach the driver, 42-year-old Maxie Ray Whitaker, drove the vehicle into oncoming traffic.

The sergeant and officers pursued the vehicle, and when it temporarily stopped in traffic, they attempted to remove Whitaker from the vehicle. Whitaker began advancing into traffic and struck another vehicle, which caused the sergeant to become pinned inside the driver’s door of Whitaker’s vehicle. While still attempting to flee, Whitaker hit a second vehicle, further pinning the Sergeant in the door. At that point, the sergeant discharged his duty weapon more than once, striking Whitaker. Whitaker then drove over the median and stopped at the sidewalk on the opposite side of the road.

Officers rendered aid, and Whitaker was transported to a local hospital in critical condition by the Houston Fire Department. HPD Sergeant Marquez was also transported for non-life-threatening injuries. The Harris County District Attorney’s Office was contacted and accepted charges of aggravated assault on a peace officer against the Whitaker.