A High Speed Car Chase In Dallas, initiated after a capital murder suspect pushed a woman out of an SUV onto Interstate 35E, ended tragically with the death of an innocent bystander. The suspect, 29-year-old Gabriel Cerna, now faces charges of capital murder, aggravated robbery, and evading arrest.
The Dallas Police Department’s pursuit policy, authored by retired assistant chief Randall Blankenbaker, outlines several factors officers must consider before initiating a high-speed chase. These factors include probable cause of a violent felony, time of day, weather conditions, traffic volume, and the type of police vehicle involved. Motorcycles, for example, are prohibited from engaging in pursuits.
Blankenbaker commented on the incident, stating that Cerna’s act of pushing the woman out of the moving vehicle established probable cause and demonstrated a “current and continuing risk to the public,” justifying the pursuit. The chase, covering 2.7 miles, culminated when Cerna rear-ended a vehicle near the Red Oak Road exit, fatally injuring Anthony Welch.
Prior to the chase, unmarked police units had been tracking the SUV Cerna was in as it left a residence on Clarendon Drive. Marked units initiated a stop on I-35 near Glenn Heights only after confirming air support from Air-1 helicopter was available. It was during this stop that Cerna forced the woman from the vehicle and fled.
The woman, 32-year-old Kristina Urquidimora, was treated at the scene and subsequently arrested for hindering the arrest of a felon. Detectives confirmed Urquidimora was aware of Cerna’s outstanding murder warrant. She currently faces a $225,000 bond.
The family of Anthony Welch is pursuing legal action against the city of Dallas in connection with the fatal crash. Cerna remains in Dallas County jail, held on a $2.09 million bond. The high speed car chase in Dallas highlights the inherent risks associated with such pursuits, balancing the need to apprehend dangerous suspects with the potential for tragic consequences.
