HOUSTON, TEXAS — Harris County officials say a military-style semi-trailer truck was at the center of a late-night hit-and-run incident that turned into a 65-minute, 27-mile pursuit, ending with a SWAT standoff and the driver’s arrest. Omar Antonio Moreno, 53, appeared in court Tuesday, where a judge denied bond after prosecutors filed felony charges tied to the chase and alleged assaults on law enforcement.

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Moreno was officially charged with three felony counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer and one count of evading arrest. Detectives are also working to determine whether an additional theft charge will be filed because officials say Moreno did not own the semi-trailer truck he was driving during the incident.

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According to Chief Deputy Tommy Diaz with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, the chain of events began around 9:47 p.m. Sunday when an off-duty Precinct 4 constable deputy called about a hit-and-run. Officials said the off-duty deputy was at a gas station near the Eastex Freeway and Aldine Bender when another driver reported the military-style trailer truck had crashed into him. Deputies located the truck, but when a traffic stop was attempted, officials said the driver refused to stop and a low-speed chase began along the northbound lanes of the Eastex Freeway.

The chase ended hours later when the semi-trailer truck stopped and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team was called in to get the driver out. Officials said SWAT attempted verbal commands to make contact, but when those efforts failed, authorities deployed tear gas. Officials said Moreno then surrendered without incident around 1:20 a.m. Monday.

Investigators say the semi-trailer truck struck multiple vehicles during the incident, and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office listed the following reported collisions and locations:

• One vehicle at Hermann Road and Suburban Road at 8:35 p.m.

• One vehicle at Winfield Road and Hirsch Road at 9:34 p.m.

• One vehicle at Aldine Mail Route Road and Eastex Freeway at 9:37 p.m.

• One vehicle in the 11900 block of Mandy at 9:46 p.m.

• Two vehicles at Old North Belt Drive and North Sam Houston Parkway at 9:49 p.m.

• Two vehicles at North Sam Houston Parkway at Mesa Road at 9:57 p.m.

Authorities say it is still not confirmed where Moreno obtained the semi-trailer truck, and detectives continue working to determine the vehicle’s origin and whether additional charges will be added.

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