A high-speed pursuit that began in Fort Davis and reached more than 112 miles per hour ended in Reeves County after Sheriff Victor Lopez personally performed a PIT maneuver on Interstate 10. The incident, announced in a brief public statement from the sheriff’s office, has renewed scrutiny of the department’s handling of warrant service operations and its use of high-risk pursuit tactics.
According to the sheriff’s office, deputies attempted to serve a warrant on Justin Vega Lara at a residence in Fort Davis. Lara fled in a vehicle, leading deputies north through the Davis Mountains toward I-10. The sheriff’s office did not identify the underlying charge or specify what the warrant involved.
The route between Fort Davis and Reeves County contains blind curves, narrow shoulders, wildlife crossings, and open-range livestock. Pursuits at high speeds in such terrain carry significant risk to bystanders, motorists, and officers. Law enforcement agencies across Texas generally require officers to continually balance the urgency of apprehension against potential danger to the public.
The sheriff’s statement did not clarify:
What offense Lara was wanted for, Whether deputies and Sheriff Lopez followed the county’s written pursuit policy, What alternatives were considered during the attempted warrant service, Whether Reeves County was notified before the pursuit entered its jurisdiction, or Whether dashcam or body-worn camera footage exists.
The statement also did not address whether the PIT maneuver was performed under departmental authorization and training standards.
Big Bend Times has requested this information from the sheriff’s office and will update the story when responses are received.
Context surrounding the incident continues to draw public interest. Sheriff Lopez previously illegally detained the publisher of this outlet, and a deputy under his command filed false charges, all of which were dismissed. Those documented incidents have heightened concerns about discretionary decisions involving use of force, detentions, and other high-risk operations.
Reeves County deputies transported Lara after the pursuit concluded. No injuries were reported.
The sheriff’s office has not released additional details.
