A 26-year-old man led officers on a brief pursuit Tuesday night before crashing his vehicle near Cahoba Drive and I-820 in Lake Worth. The driver, identified as Ariess Mays, fled on foot after the crash, jumping out of the vehicle's window and running into the cold waters of Lake Worth before surrendering to police.
Inside the vehicle, officers discovered a loaded Drako AK-47 pistol and a small quantity of drugs. A check of the firearm revealed it had been reported stolen in Fort Worth.
Mays, a convicted felon and confirmed gang member, faces multiple felony charges, including felon in possession of a firearm, theft of a firearm, unlawful carrying of a weapon, and evading arrest with a vehicle. He was also wanted on two counts of engaging in organized criminal activity in Tarrant County.
Authorities credited the alertness of the patrolman who initiated the stop for the swift resolution of the incident. No injuries were reported.
