{"id":241772,"date":"2026-05-22T09:33:10","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T14:33:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/?p=241772"},"modified":"2026-05-22T10:10:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T15:10:13","slug":"houston-tesla-police-chase","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/houston-tesla-police-chase\/","title":{"rendered":"EXCLUSIVE: Tesla Rams HPD Cruiser, Sparks Fireball Chase"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

<\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span>Estimated reading time: <\/span>6<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Houston police pursuit in 2022 could\u2019ve ended with officers trapped inside a burning patrol car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, it turned into one of those stories<\/a> that sounds more like a movie scene than real life: a Tesla slamming into police, a violent crash, suspects bailing on foot, a patrol unit erupting into flames, ammo cooking off in the cabin, and officers still chasing suspects while their rifles melted inside the inferno.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And now, for the first time, one of the officers involved is telling the full story exclusively to GunsAmerica<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Houston Police Department Officer Vincent Li says the incident started during a proactive operation targeting a known crime hotspot on Houston\u2019s west side. Li was assigned to the department\u2019s tactical unit, working alongside undercover officers monitoring a gas station reportedly linked to drug trafficking and stolen vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
The Houston Police patrol vehicle involved in the pursuit became fully engulfed in flames after crashing during the foot chase portion of the incident.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Then they spotted a white Tesla Model X.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Li, undercover officers observed one of the occupants allegedly carrying a handgun stuffed into his waistband before getting behind the wheel. Once probable cause for a traffic stop developed, Li and his partner moved in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s when everything went sideways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe reverse lights flicked on the Tesla and they accelerated in reverse to ram us,\u201d Li told GunsAmerica<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEE ALSO: M&P Shield X Review: Better Than the Shield Plus?<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Luckily, the patrol unit had a PIT bumper installed, absorbing most of the impact. The Tesla then jumped a curb, blasted across a parking lot, and the chase was on. Li handled radio traffic while his partner drove, as HPD\u2019s airborne unit FOX tracked the fleeing suspects from above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then came the crash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Westside patrol, TAC and FOX have three suspects in custody 12900 Ashford Point. Armed suspect led officers on a pursuit intentionally striking a patrol car that latter caught on fire. Two suspects were caught by patrol officers. 202 pic.twitter.com\/VnM3MvrK8C<\/a><\/p>— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) August 4, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote>