WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — After a brief hospital examination, the suspect in a chase Monday night, Feb. 20, 2023, in which a Wichita County sheriff’s deputy vehicle was struck and overturned, was taken to jail with various charges.
Antonio Dean Ridley, of Wichita Falls, was incarcerated in the Wichita County Jail on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, after being cleared by United Regional doctors. He responds to the following allegations:
- Evading arrest with a vehicle that causes bodily harm – Third degree felony
- Possession of a dangerous drug: felony in state prison
- Marijuana possession in a drug-free area – a class A felony
Ridley is currently being held in bonds on three counts totaling $25,000.
Just after 6:00 p.m. on Monday, February 20, 2023, Wichita County Deputies were notified that a 2010 White Chevy Equinox with Illinois tags had escaped a traffic stop by a soldier, according to the affidavit. of DPS in Clay County and was headed for Wichita Falls on US 287.
Authorities said a Wichita County deputy took up residence at Business US 287 and Homestead Lane. The deputy said the suspect’s car passed his unit and began the pursuit. The vehicle stopped near Fisher Road and the deputy said he ordered the driver to turn off the vehicle.
The deputy said the driver, later identified as Ridley, stuck his hands and upper body out the window and the deputy again told him to turn off the vehicle. He said Ridley told him it was off, but the officer said the backlights were on and the vehicle began to creep forward.
The affidavit said the deputy told Ridley to park his vehicle, then said Ridley made a movement as if he were pulling the car into park, then pushed his upper body out the window. The deputy said he told him to throw the keys out the window and Ridley asked, “Huh?”
The deputy said he again ordered him to throw away the keys and Ridley then sped off westbound into the eastbound lanes of Business US 287. He said he returned to the westbound lanes and onto Martin Luther King Blvd shunted back into the eastbound lanes.
The deputy said Ridley attempted to turn south on Hines but was going too fast to turn and hit the curb, so he turned into the Huskey Hat Company parking lot and then back onto Business 287.
He said when another deputy’s unit showed up west of the chase, Ridley turned south onto Old Windthorst Road and lost control again, hit the curb and began sliding back and forth along the road, stopping abruptly after possibly blowing a tire.
According to authorities, the pursuing deputy’s unit then collided with the Equinox.
The deputy said Ridley then got out and ran east to a day care center on Scott Avenue. The deputy gave chase and said he saw Ridley backing up to the vehicles and notified the other deputies of his whereabouts.
Another deputy arrived and ordered Ridley ashore, which they said he did after multiple commands.
MPs said after Ridley was arrested, they learned another MP who was on his way in pursuit had been hit by a civilian’s vehicle at Old Windthorst Road and Sunnyside Lane, causing the MP’s unit to turn upside down .
The deputy was transported for treatment to hospital with a hand injury.
Deputies said a search by Equinox uncovered several ziplock bags of marijuana weighing 3 pounds and 12 bottles of “Wockhardt Promethazine Hydrochloride Syrup”.
