Alleged theft of alcohol leads to police chase, assault, arrest

GONZALES — A local man faces multiple charges after police said he stole alcohol, assaulted a store clerk, punched a police officer and threw a beer can at a car.

At 10:21 a.m. May 7, Officer Gabriel Trevino was dispatched to the Palmetto Food Mart in the 1300 block of Seydler Street in reference to a theft. The suspect was described as a black male wearing a red shirt, and that he had taken a can of beer from the store and fled the scene on foot, Capt. Allen Taylor reported.

While en route Trevino saw a white male running behind the suspect, who matched the description given by dispatch. They appeared to be leaving the area of the First Shot liquor store in the 700 block of Seydler Street, Taylor said.

The suspect, identified as Steven Demond Davis Jr., then proceeded west onto St. Andrew Street, with the other man still pursuing him. The officer noticed Davis now had a bottle of whiskey in his hand and was drinking from it. Despite repeated warnings from Trevino to stop and drop the bottle, Davis continued on foot.

When officers tried to detain Davis, he became combative, lifting the bottle as if to swing it at Trevino. Davis dropped the bottle and struck the officer in the face with his fist, hitting him repeatedly in the back of the head before breaking away. Davis then took off running through the St. James Catholic Cemetery on St. Andrew Street, Taylor said.

Investigator Jason Montoya and Sgt. Drew Nidey arrived on the scene and drive stunned Davis (who had again refused to be detained). While EMS personnel tended to Davis he again tried to escape, but was apprehended by officers.

During their investigation officers learned that Davis had assaulted the Palmetto Food Mart clerk while taking the can of beer. A witness also reported that Davis had thrown a beer at his car and damaged it.

Davis, 23, of Gonzales, was taken to Gonzales County Jail. He is charged with aggravated assault against a public servant, robbery, evading arrest, resisting arrest, criminal mischief and theft.

Man charged with DWI after striking unattended vehicle

At 12:50 a.m. May 8, Officer Alberto Carrera was monitoring traffic in the parking lot of the football field when he saw a white Ford pickup crash into an unattended vehicle near the Turn-Around Sports bar across the street, Taylor said. The truck continued driving onto Cone Street after the incident, and Carrera pulled it over — identifying the driver as Eric Luis Martinez, 28, of Gonzales. During questioning Martinez denied any knowledge of crashing into the car.

Also during questioning officers took a knuckle knife from Martinez, and could smell alcohol on his breath. After conducting a field sobriety test (which indicated Martinez was too drunk to drive) officers arrested Martinez. He was taken to Gonzales County Jail and charged with possession of prohibited weapons, driving while intoxicated and duty on striking unattended vehicle.