Lubbock Traffic Stop Turns Very Violent, Injures Sheriff's Deputies

LUBBOCK, TX — What started as a simple traffic violation quickly turned into a violent encounter, resulting in injuries for two officers and the suspect. According to court documents, Lubbock County Deputy D. Caudillo's routine traffic stop took an unexpected turn when he came across 25-year-old Ramon Flores Jr. on September 24, 2024.

Deputy Caudillo was on duty driving westbound on 38th Street near Avenue Q when he noticed a car that had stopped well past the designated stopping point at a marked intersection. Being a violation, he turned on his emergency lights to pull the driver over. However, instead of stopping, the vehicle continued south on Avenue Q and then turned west onto 44th Street before finally coming to a halt.

As Deputy Caudillo approached the vehicle, he saw a male driver and a female passenger inside. The driver admitted he was a fugitive and agreed to step out of the car, but did not have any identification. Corporal Chavez soon arrived to assist Deputy Caudillo.

When Deputy Caudillo tried to detain the driver during the traffic investigation, the driver refused to follow orders and attempted to get back into the car. This sparked a physical struggle, and Deputy Caudillo took the driver to the ground. Court documents state that both Caudillo and Chavez used closed-hand strikes to gain control as the driver shouted at the female passenger to “get the gun.”

Things took a dangerous turn when the driver managed to start the car and put it into drive. Despite the deputies' attempts to control him, the driver hit the gas, dragging Deputy Caudillo along and injuring his knees and shoulder as he fell onto the pavement. The vehicle finally rolled into a front yard, crashing into a tree.

After the chaos, Deputy Caudillo and Corporal Chavez sought medical help. While Corporal Chavez had a hand injury, Deputy Caudillo couldn't lift his right arm. Both were taken to a local hospital for evaluation.

Subsequently, several law enforcement units were sent out to find Flores, who was spotted driving the vehicle near 5616 East County Road 6550. When Staff Sergeant Delarossa turned on his emergency lights, Flores took off at high speed. The chase came to an end when he crashed into another car while trying to cross Highway 62/82, causing significant damage and injuring the other driver, identified as Jeri Nicole Bailey. EMS rushed Bailey to the hospital for treatment of multiple injuries.

After the crash, Flores got out of his vehicle and started walking around, ignoring commands from officers to get on the ground. When he reached for his waistband, Corporal Johnson deployed a taser, which effectively incapacitated Flores, allowing officers to take him into custody. LSO dispatch ran a check and revealed that the vehicle was stolen.

Ramon Flores Jr. is faced with multiple charges, including two counts of aggravated assault against a peace officer, aggravated assault causing bodily injury, evading arrest in a motor vehicle, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Flores is currently being held at the Lubbock County Detention Center on a $350,000 bond.