Hopkins County, TX – A dramatic multi-hour law enforcement incident ended with the arrest of a 56-year-old Commerce man following a pursuit, tire deflation, and standoff involving SWAT and multiple agencies.
On the evening of September 25, 2025, deputies with the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the I-30 Eastbound Safety Rest Area for a report of a potentially suicidal subject in a white Dodge vehicle. When law enforcement made contact, the man, identified as Kraig Steven Betterton, reportedly refused commands and fled the scene in his vehicle, triggering a county-wide pursuit.
Hopkins County Deputies, along with support from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), deployed a spike strip during the pursuit, which successfully deflated one of the vehicle’s tires. Despite the tire damage, Betterton continued fleeing north on FM 499, crossing into Cumby and then turning onto North Frisco Street…