The Brownwood Police Department issued the following press release Monday morning:

On Saturday, September 21, 2024, at approximately 2:30 a.m., Sergeant Jesse Mares was patrolling in the 1800 block of Austin Ave.  As he drove closer to Coggin Ave., he observed a white pickup traveling southbound on Austin Ave. at a high rate of speed.  The speed was verified by radar at approximately 88 mph in the 1400 block of Austin Ave.

Sgt Mares turned around and attempted to catch up to the speeding truck as it slowed and turned onto Ave. K. The pickup then turned northbound onto the 1800 block of Durham Ave. and the driver turned off all of the pickup’s lights in an attempt to elude observation.  Speeds for the vehicle reached above 70 mph as it traveled in this residential area.

Eventually, the pickup turned into the rear parking lot of a business in the 1300 block of Durham Ave. and came to a stop. 

A felony traffic stop was conducted, and the driver was identified as 17-year-old Brayden Laine Blackburn of Brownwood. Inside the vehicle, a loaded pistol was discovered. 

Blackburn was arrested and charged with Reckless Driving, Evading Arrest/Detention in a Vehicle, and Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon.