New information about the non-fatal Aug. 9 shooting of a Dallas Police Department officer revealed that one of the suspects linked to the case left his driver’s permit at the scene.
An arrest affidavit cited by FOX 4 said that “Dallas police found an abandoned cell phone at the scene of the shooting,” and that “inside the cell phone’s case was a Louisiana Instructional Permit for 19-year-old Redricous Lewis.”
Last month, KRLD reported that Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia spoke out about the carjacking, which resulted in the shooting of undercover officer Nathanial Chapman. He has been with the department for more than two decades.
“They were not going to stop,” said Garcia of Lewis, and two other suspects: 17-year-old Redtravion Polk and 18-year-old Xavier Cook. “He put his life on the line to protect the residents of the city. Had it not been his car, there was someone else whose car was going to get carjacked that night. That is 100% fact.”
Garcia said all three teens are from Louisiana and that the traveled from Shreveport, La., to Dallas to commit crimes. After boxing in Chapman as he drove his unmarked Dodge Challenger squad car, the teens allegedly used guns to take it. According to Garcia, they fired nine shots at Chapman, who is expected to recover.
During an investigation into the carjacking, Dallas police analysts connected Lewis to the Instagram account: wb.meachiey, said FOX 4.
“Clear surveillance footage from the motel showed one of the suspects in a red letterman jacket with a large ‘C’ on the upper left chest,” said the report. “The same jacket is seen in the Instagram account associated with Lewis, according to the affidavit.”
In Shreveport, police conducted surveillance on Lewis and eventually Lewis, Polk and Cook on drug and weapon charges, per the arrest affidavit. Then, Dallas police detectives traveled to Shreveport, where Lewis and Cook allegedly admitted to being accomplices.
Polk was identified in the affidavit as the person who shot at Chapman with a Glock pistol before driving off in the officer’s vehicle. Cook also admitted to firing one rifle round at Chapman, according to the affidavit.
All three suspects are charged with aggravated robbery and more charges are expected. As of this week, only Cook has been transported to Dallas County jail, while the others remain in Shreveport. His bond is set at $500,000.