On Thursday, October 16, 2025, a Tarrant County jury found 65-year-old Thomas McClendon guilty of evading arrest or detention with a vehicle. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
The case stems from an incident on February 18, 2024, when Fort Worth police spotted a vehicle reported stolen from Abilene traveling nearby on I-35. Officers activated their lights and sirens to initiate a traffic stop, but the vehicle failed to yield, prompting a pursuit.
During the chase, police deployed tire deflation devices, which ultimately forced the vehicle to stop. McClendon was identified as the driver and subsequently arrested…