Pinehurst officer injured in pursuit

Tuesday, Jan. 27, at approximately 1:14 a.m., Officer Leonard Roff of the Pinehurst Police Department observed a suspicious vehicle in the 1900 block of Strickland Drive. The driver of the vehicle committed a traffic offense by making an illegal left turn in front of Officer Roff's police vehicle. Officer Roff attempted to initiate a traffic stop. The driver of the vehicle refused to pull over and a vehicle pursuit ensued.

Officer Roff began to purse the vehicle, a silver 2012 Silver Honda four-door registered in Port Arthur.

The vehicle traveled South on MLK Jr.

Drive before turning West on Tulane Road.

Officer Roff pursued the vehicle onto Old Highway 90 to Interstate 10.

They traveled North on FM 1136 and then West on Highway 12.

A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper joined the pursuit as they approached the City of Vidor.

The pursuit continued westbound onto Interstate 10 in Vidor and into Beaumont.

As the pursuit neared Ford Park, Officer Roff was forced to exit the interstate due to a fatality accident already being investigated by the Beaumont Police Department.

As he traveled west on the Interstate 10 access road he failed to negotiate a curve near the South Major Drive overpass at Interstate 10 and left the roadway.

His vehicle, a 2011 Dodge Ram Pickup truck, struck a road sign and a small grove of trees.

Officer Roff suffered minor cuts and bruises due to the impact and broken glass. He was transported by ambulance to Memorial Herman Baptist Hospital in Beaumont where he was treated and released. The vehicle sustained major damage and is believed to be a total loss. Other police units pursued the vehicle into Harris County but they were unable to successfully stop the vehicle. At this time the suspect is still at large but a tentative identification has been made.

Incidentally, the 2012 Silver Honda is believed to be the same vehicle that was involved in a pursuit approximately 45 minutes earlier in Port Arthur following a report of aggravated assault involving an assault rifle.