Two deputies shot; 3 vehicles rammed
Officials say man threatened firefighters, shot deputies and rammed patrol units during chase
DeKALB, Texas—Bowie County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a DeKalb man Sunday in connection with the shooting and wounding of two deputies.
Early Sunday morning, deputies were dispatched to assist the DeKalb Volunteer Fire Department with a house fire in the 4600 block of Farm to Market Road 44 East.
They were informed the homeowner, Bryan Lee Batchelor, 48, did not want them to put out the fire and was pointing a firearm at the members of the fire department.
Batchelor jumped in his truck and drove into a pasture to elude deputies as they arrived, Chief Deputy Jeff Neal said.
Deputy Eric McMillian was the first to arrive and Deputy Westin Fannin, who is also a member of the DVFD, rode with McMillian to find Batchelor.
While the two deputies were driving through a field trying to reach Batchelor, their vehicle became stuck.
Batchelor allegedly rammed the Bowie County vehicle the two deputies were in. Batchelor then shot at the deputies several times while they returned gunfire, according to Neal’s report.
Both deputies were shot but were not critically injured.
Batchelor then allegedly fled in his vehicle and was spotted on County Road 4241 by Deputy Clint Freeman. When their vehicles met, Freeman reportedly could see that Batchelor had intentions of running his truck into the deputy’s patrol unit.
He tried to avoid this collision, but was unsuccessful. This left Freeman’s vehicle inoperable.
At this time deputies lost sight of Batchelor.
Lt. Chris Allison and Deputy Martin McGee continued looking for Batchelor. They found him on County Road 4235 when Batchelor turned on his vehicle’s exterior lights.
Batchelor then allegedly smashed their patrol unit.
A second exchange of gunfire took place at this location, but deputies were able to take Batchelor into custody. They treated Batchelor for his injuries until medical personnel arrived.
Bowie County Sheriff James Prince said Sunday evening that Batchelor had receive at least one gunshot wound during at least one of the two gunfire exchanges. During the second gunfire exchange, deputies were able to subdue him and take him into custody.
Batchelor was taken to the hospital where he remains in custody.
The injured deputies have been treated and released.