Staff Report

SAN MARCOS — A 17-year-old suspect was arrested on Tuesday after leading Hays County Sheriff’s deputies on a vehicle pursuit in San Marcos.

Deputies initiated a traffic stop on a black Mercedes travelling at a high speed on southbound Interstate 35. The vehicle exited to the access road while maintaining a speed of over 70 mph. Once stopped, the driver was not compliant with deputies’ instructions and fled the scene, deliberately steering his vehicle toward one of the deputies.

Noel Rodriguez-Cerda. Courtesy photo from Hays County Sheriff’s Office.

After a short pursuit, the Mercedes stopped again. Deputies continued to give commands to the driver to exit the vehicle, but the driver would not comply. The driver put the vehicle in reverse and sped away on Long Street with deputies in pursuit. The driver turned on Thorpe Street and hit another vehicle while going through the intersection at Robbie Lane.

Both the driver of the second vehicle and the suspect were transported to area hospitals with minor injuries. After medical release, the suspect, 17-year-old Christopher Noel Rodriguez Cerda was transported to the Hays County Jail. Rodriguez-Cerda was charged with multiple offenses, including Felony Evading and Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer. No bond has been set as of March 30.

If you have information regarding this event, contact Hays County Sheriff’s Office by calling 512-393-7896 and refer to case number HCSO 2021-19717. You can also contact Crime Stoppers anonymously by calling 1-800-324-8466 or you can submit your information on-line to Tip Line P3tips.com as well as submit a tip on the Hays County Sheriff’s Office App.