DALLAS — Dallas police have arrested a suspect in a culvert at the Keeton Golf Course after they say he crashed a car with possible stolen plates, ran into a wooded area and fired shots.
DPD told WFAA that officers were behind a vehicle with stolen plates in the area of the 500 block of North St. Augustine Road and its helicopter was called in to assist. The car stopped after it was involved in a crash near Bruton Road and Jim Miller Road, near the Keeton Golf Course, DPD officials said.
The suspect, identified as Kevin Knowles, 31, was teargassed and ran out of the culvert shortly before 4:15 p.m. Wednesday.
Knowles faces charges of aggravated assault of a public servant, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, evading arrest, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, accident involving injury and unlawful possession of a weapon.
Police said Knowles fled on foot to the golf course and then stole two golf cars and "shot at a citizen trying to stop one of the golf carts," according to a news release.
Officers found Knowles barricaded in a concrete drainage ditch, where he shot at responding SWAT officers trying to negotiate him, police said.
Knowles' shots hit a search robot and a ballistic shield, but no officers were injured, according to police.
Police ultimately use "a chemical agent," and Knowles threw his weapon and surrendered, officials said.
A law enforcement source to WFAA Senior Crime & Justice Reporter Rebecca Lopez that Knowles was on federal probation for unlawful possession of a firearm and didn't want to go back to prison.
As the incident unfolded, it created a bizarre scene at the Keeton Golf Course.
A golf course official told WFAA reporter William Joy the suspect stole a golf cart from older men at the fourth hole and fired at them. The official also said the men threw a club at the suspect.
Many golfers were locked in the clubhouse while the incident was ongoing, including a 14-year-old girl, Maddie West.
"It's crazy to be there and know there's an active shooter right next to you, at the same course of you," she told WFAA after spending six hours in the clubhouse.
Maddie said police did a headcount and 81 people were in the clubhouse. Most of them, she said, were clearly many decades older than her.
They all made sure she felt safe and had food to eat.
"There was a whole bunch of older guys all around me, all retired. So, I found some way to make conversation with them while they were drinking beers," she said, giggling.
Multiple SWAT vehicles responded to the incident.
Maddie added how thankful she and all the other golfers were for law enforcement's efforts.
"Something bad definitely could've happened, and I'm grateful no one was hurt."
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