Shortly after noon Monday morning, Quinlan Police Department called out over the radio that they were in pursuit with a vehicle that was refusing to pull over.

The pursuit started in the area of Kirby Street in Quinlan. The vehicle led officers down Highway 276 where Hunt County Sheriff’s Office joined in on the pursuit. The pursuit turned onto FM 36 North towards the Interstate.

The vehicle eventually came to a stop at the end of CR 2545. The lead officer called out over the radio that the suspect was pointing a gun at his own head, and at some point aimed the weapon at officers. The suspect left the vehicle and barricaded himself inside a camper.

Sheriff Terry Jones along with additional deputies and Texas DPS responded to assist with what turned in to be a standoff. After an hour or more of negotiation, the suspect still refused to exit the camper. Sheriff Terry Jones & Deputies along with Quinlan Police Department entered the Camper taking the suspect into custody without further incident.

The suspect identified by booking reports as Johnny Eugene Smith was taken in for a mental evaluation, eventually being booked into the Hunt County Detention Center on Charges of:

AGG ASSAULT AGAINST PUBLIC SERVANT
EVADING ARREST DET W/VEH

Great work to Quinlan Police Department, Hunt County Sheriff’s Office and Texas DPS for bringing what could have been a tragic event, to a peaceful ending.

This is all of the information we have available at this time. We will update as we learn more.