Arrest Made After Pursuit That Left Cedar Park Officer Hurt

CEDAR PARK, TX —The Cedar Park Police Department on Thursday released details related to a pursuit during which an officer was struck by a vehicle.

Police on Wednesday were altered by another law enforcement agency that a female driver was acting suspiciously in an area where previous felony criminal acts had recently occurred, the Cedar Park Police Department wrote in an advisory. Based on those reports, a Cedar Park officer attempted to pull the driver over for further investigation around 1:05 p.m., according to police.

The driver drove off as the officer approached, police said, evading other law enforcement personnel through parts of Cedar Park, Leander and, briefly, portions of Travis and Williamson counties — striking two vehicles and a marked patrol unit along the way.

Previous coverage: Cedar Park Police Officer Struck By Car During Suspect Pursuit

As the driver reached the area along the 100 block of West Whitestone Boulevard, police added, Cedar Park Officer Justin Gower and his canine partner, Rogue, exited a patrol vehicle before attempting to apprehend the woman. Both subsequently struck by the vehicle, police said, sustaining injuries in the process. A nearby Texas Department of Public Safety trooper discharged a firearm at the fleeing vehicle, police added, resulting in no injuries.

Gower was transported to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries before being released, police said. The canine was taken to an area veterinary clinic for treatment before being released, police added.

After striking the officer and canine, the driver continued down North Bell Boulevard until the vehicle wrecked the vehicle, according to the police account. Police said the driver, 32-year-old Joanna Elise Santos, was apprehended and taken into custody at that time. She has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon against a police officer and interference with a police service animal with intent to injure/kill — first-degree and second-degree felonies, respectively, police said. According to Williamson County Jail records, Santos was booked under $150,000 in total bonds.

Joanna Elise Santos booking photo via Williamson County Jail records.

"I want to commend the swift actions by our officers, dispatchers, and surrounding agencies in their help to apprehend this suspect,” Cedar Park Police Chief Mike Harmon said in a prepared statement. “Officer Gower and K9 Rogue are both recovering from a situation that could have had a very different outcome. We’d like to thank everyone for their patience during the road closures and at this time, this continues to be an active and fluid situation.”

Cedar Park police also thanked the Texas Department of Transportation and the Leander Police Department for their assistance during the road closures. Police said the case remains under investigation, and detectives are working in conjunction with the Texas Department of Public Safety.