Man who led authorities on a wild Chase from Giddings into Bastrop identified

BASTROP, Texas - The man who led authorities on a wild chase from Giddings into Bastrop was identified as Brandon Viator. 

Lee County Prosecutor Martin Placke tells FOX-7 Austin that Viator was being brought before a district court judge for a bond revocation hearing. He was on probation on charge of unlawful possession of a weapon and deadly conduct. Placke says Viator had been recently arrested on new assault charge out of Bastrop which is why his probation was being revoked.

The escape Tuesday morning happened while Viator was being transferred into the Lee County District Court from a sheriffs department van. Investigators say he was able to slip out of the shackles and ran down a nearby alleyway. He jumped into a truck believed to be driven by his mother. She is identified as Madge Viator. She got out of the truck at a store in Paige.

Authorities set up roadblocks outside of Bastrop near the intersection of Highway 95 and Highway 21. Christina Salinas tells FOX-7 Austin she saw a truck try to avoid the roadblock by swerving into oncoming traffic.

The driver according to Salinas jumped out of the truck while it was still moving and ran while holding what appear to be a rifle bag. A police SUV knocked Viator to the ground, but Selena says he got up, grabbed the rifle bag and continued running toward the woods until he was apprehended by two officers.

Authorities say Viator’s mother has also been taken into custody.