The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

On Wednesday, Oct. 23, around 6:30 p.m., Narcotics Investigators with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a black Dodge Charger on FM 1442 just north of FM 105 near the Orangefield area of Orange County. When the vehicle did not immediately begin to stop, other Sheriff’s Office Deputies with emergency lights and sirens also got involved and the vehicle began to flee at a high rate of speed.

When the vehicle reached Interstate 10, it proceeded Westbound on the Interstate at speeds reaching excess of 100 mph. Deputies observed the driver of the fleeing Dodge Charger toss a pistol out of the passenger side window onto the roadway. While Deputies pursued the fleeing vehicle, other Deputies were able to stop and collect the pistol that was thrown by the suspect.

The pursuit exited the Interstate at FM 1132, and then proceeded back Eastbound onto IH-10. The vehicle continued driving at excessive speeds in order to flee deputies. The vehicle exited at FM 1136 and traveled to State Highway 12. From there, the suspect led Deputies east toward Newton County and then to County Road 7079, where the driver and a passenger left the vehicle and fled on foot into a wooded area.

The passenger, identified as Jessica Diane Smith, 25, was located hiding in the woods by deputies. The driver, who was later identified as Jeremy James Wimberly, 37, was not immediately found. With the assistance of the City of Beaumont Police Department K-9 unit, Wimberly was located in the wooded area by the tracking dog and was apprehended. The City of Orange Police Department also assisted.

It was discovered that the pistol that Wimberly threw from the vehicle was stolen out of Louisiana. Wimberly and Smith were arrested and transported to the Orange County Jail Facility. Wimberly was booked for evading detention with prior conviction-felony 3, possession of a stolen firearm-state jail felony, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon-felony 3, and tampering with physical evidence. Wimberly was arraigned by Judge David Peck and his bond totals $85,000.

Jessica Smith was booked for evading detention-misdemeanor A, and tampering with physical evidence. Smith was also arraigned by Judge David Peck and her bond totaled $8,500.

Both Smith and Wimberly remain in custody at the Orange County Jail.