Two Houston police officers entered an Uber vehicle and directed the driver to pursue a fleeing suspect on August 8. The incident, captured on dashcam footage, occurred as Uber driver Anthony Baines was en route to pick up a fare.
One officer, out of breath, entered the passenger seat and instructed Baines, "Hey, gimme a ride over there, please. That way. Go, go, go, go!" Baines, a U.S. Army veteran, continued driving and picked up the second officer, who had been attempting to pursue the suspect on foot but was being outrun. The officers then proceeded to their own patrol vehicle.
Baines told Fox26 Houston that he was "in shock" and described the situation as something he "kind of think[s] about only happened in action movies." He added that he was running on adrenaline.
The suspect was being sought in connection with a call about an armed individual threatening a woman and her children at a pool. The suspect fled when officers arrived at the scene.
Police stated that the suspect escaped but acknowledged the driver's assistance. According to a Houston Police Officer's Union representative, this unorthodox method of pursuit is not prohibited by police regulations, nor is there any obligation for a civilian to participate in such a chase.