Police in Sugar Land, Texas, on Tuesday captured a Louisiana man who describes himself as a professional bank robber. The arrest followed a robbery in Sugar Land and a high-speed pursuit that ended in southwest Houston.
Charles L. Wood, 49, allegedly confessed to his latest robbery after leading police on a high-speed chase through heavy noon-time Houston traffic, according to KHOU CBS 11. The chase began after Wood allegedly robbed a BBVA Bank in Sugar Land. He reportedly to have displayed a weapon and made off with over $5,000 in cash.
Bank employees gave police a description of Wood’s getaway vehicle and Sugar Land Police Sergeant Matt Levan spotted him a short time later speeding away from the seen on the Southwest Freeway. “I was hoping that he didn’t cause an accident,” Sgt Levan told KHOU. “That was the first thing, because you don’t want to see an innocent person get hit and get injured.”
Wood’s fleeing vehicle struck one car and a pursuing police cruiser struck a a second. No one was reported injured in the pursuit. During the dashcam video of the pursuit (above), Levan can be heard confirming that Wood was reported to be armed.
Following the pursuit, police recovered the stolen cash. Other property in the vehicle and Wood’s confession to police resulted in his being tied to robberies in at least six other states. In addition to Texas, those states where Wood is wanted include Kansas, Arkansas, Utah, Colorado and possibly Oklahoma, KHOU reported.
“He confessed to our bank robbery. He confessed to a bank robbery in Kansas,” Levan told KHOU.
He boasts a lengthy criminal history in Louisiana and Texas, which includes charges of unlawful carrying of a weapon, violation of a protective order, interference with child custody, burglary of a habitation, DWI, criminal damage to property, and public intoxication.
In the Utah case, Wood’s confession led to an arrest warrant with a $500,000 bond. Wood is currently being held in the Fort Bend County Jail on a $100,000 bond.
Bob Price serves as associate editor and senior political news contributor for Breitbart Texas and is a member of the original Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX.