Officer Zarate’s motorcycle struck a landscaping trailer as the pursuit traveled down Ferris Street, between Chimney Rock Road and South Rice Avenue.
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“You are sending a risky message to the punks out there who choose to run if you say we are not going to chase you.” said Ray Hunt with the Houston Police Union.
Dante Jerel Moore turned himself in to Bellaire Police Chief Byron Holloway Wednesday afternoon after walking down the sidewalk with community activist Quannell X, surrounded by a media horde. Zarate, 52, responded to a call and detained the men in their vehicle in the center parking lot – and they stopped long enough for the driver’s image to be captured on Zarate’s body camera before fleeing.
During the high-speed chase, Zarate lost control and crashed into a lawn maintenance trailer.
He was transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital, where he died.
Houston police spokesman Victor Senties says the officer from Bellaire, a west Houston enclave, died Tuesday.
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He stressed that this tragic event had nothing to do with what is happening in the country between police and protestors now. Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers, which retweeted the below photo, at 713-222-TIPS.
