Anthony Baines, a Houston Uber driver, was unexpectedly directed to help two police officers pursue a suspect fleeing on foot. Dashcam footage shows one officer entering the front passenger seat before directing Baines toward an apartment complex, followed by a second officer who entered the back seat. The officers later left the vehicle and resumed the pursuit on foot, but police did not locate the suspect.
| 1) | Unexpected assistance during a nighttime pursuit |
|---|---|
| 2) | Dashcam captures officers entering the Uber |
| 3) | Police response to a reported threat |
| 4) | Driver describes the unusual encounter |
| 5) | Suspect remains unidentified as investigation continues |
Unexpected assistance during a nighttime pursuit
The incident occurred at about 12:20 a.m. on August 8 in Houston’s Heights neighborhood. Baines was driving for Uber when a shirtless man ran across the street in front of his vehicle, with two Houston Police Department officers close behind. The officers were pursuing the man after attempting to detain him near an apartment complex.
One officer waved Baines down and asked him to drive toward the area. The request turned an ordinary rideshare trip into an improvised effort to help officers locate a fleeing suspect.
Dashcam captures officers entering the Uber
The dashcam video shows the officer entering the front passenger seat and urgently pointing Baines in the direction of the suspect. Baines can be heard asking where to drive while the officer repeatedly tells him to continue. After traveling a short distance, the officer opened a door for her partner, who was carrying a flashlight, to enter the back seat.
The officers remained in the vehicle while searching around the area. When one appeared to see the suspect, both officers quickly exited and continued the pursuit on foot. Baines reacted with surprise as they left the car.
“It caught me completely off guard. I’ve never had anything like that happen driving. I was surprised but just did what the officer asked in the moment.”
Police response to a reported threat
Houston police said the officers were responding to a terroristic threat call. The allegations involved a man who threatened to shoot a woman and her children after becoming upset over a belief that someone had stolen from him.
Police said officers tried to detain the man as he left an apartment, but he refused to cooperate and ran away. An officer asked Baines to take them around the block to the apartment complex. The officers then returned to their police vehicle, although the suspect was not found.
Driver describes the unusual encounter
Anthony Baines later confirmed on social media that he was the driver shown in the dashcam footage. He described himself as an Army veteran, husband and father of two. He said he had begun driving for Uber while he and his wife saved for their first home.
Although the officers’ arrival was unexpected, Baines said he followed their instructions at the time. The video provides his view of the encounter, including the officers’ directions, their brief ride in the vehicle and their return to the foot pursuit.
Suspect remains unidentified as investigation continues
Police did not locate the suspect during the search, and his identity has not been released. The investigation remains ongoing. Authorities have not announced an arrest in connection with the reported threat.
The incident was confirmed as authentic by Houston police. The available footage documents the unusual assistance provided by Baines, but it does not establish what happened to the suspect after the officers left the vehicle.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Two Houston officers briefly used Baines’ Uber vehicle during a foot pursuit. |
| 2 | The pursuit followed a reported threat involving a woman and her children. |
| 3 | The suspect was not located and has not been publicly identified. |
| 4 | Baines said the encounter surprised him, but he followed the officer’s instructions. |
Summary
A Houston Uber driver became an unexpected participant in a police pursuit after officers asked him to drive toward a suspect fleeing on foot. Dashcam footage shows the officers entering and leaving his vehicle before continuing the search. The suspect remains unidentified, and the investigation is ongoing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the Uber driver?
Anthony Baines, an Army veteran, husband and father of two, was driving for Uber when the incident occurred.
Why did the officers enter the vehicle?
They asked Baines to drive toward an apartment complex while pursuing a suspect who had allegedly fled after officers responded to a terroristic threat call.
Was the suspect arrested?
Police did not locate the suspect during the search. His identity has not been released, and the investigation remains ongoing.