FORT WORTH -- The man who led police on a slow chase on a stolen forklift Sunday faces at least five criminal charges, and the people who recorded the pursuit and then posted it online could have legal problems, too, police said Tuesday.
Timothy Raines, 43, of Fort Worth is accused of stealing a forklift from a construction site and driving it along University Drive and Interstate 30 while intoxicated.Raines faces charges of assaulting a public servant, theft of property, evading arrest, violating a protective order and driving while intoxicated. He also has an outstanding traffic warrant from Irving.He remained in the Mansfield Jail on Tuesday night with bail totaling $100,245.The chase was recorded by Nathan Lowery, 25, of Fort Worth, who posted the video on YouTube."We are investigating the individuals who shot the video," police Sgt. Pedro Criado said Tuesday. They put themselves and other motorists in danger, and possibly violated traffic laws, he said.In an interview with the Star-Telegram, Lowery said his only violation of traffic law was not using a turn signal."Fort Worth police may just be looking at this because I recorded them using a Taser," Lowery said.Raines told WFAA/Channel 8 in a jailhouse interview that officers drew their Tasers but did not use them.Raines told WFAA that he has taken medication for bipolar disorder but stopped this summer. He said he bought the forklift from a stranger for $500, then "took the tractor" and "drove the tractor to a beer store.""I picked up a six-pack," Raines said. "I had my dog with me on top of the lift."He was driving it home when he saw officers behind him."I really don't remember too much of it," Raines said. "It's kind of like a dream to me. But I didn't want the dog to get hurt."The video shows the man on the forklift throwing beer bottles at oncoming traffic.Police said Raines almost hit several vehicles, including patrol cars, during the chase, which never exceeded 16 mph.Raines got off the forklift on westbound I-30 near the Ashland Avenue/Hulen Street exit, but the forklift was in reverse and moved toward patrol cars, police said.Officers jumped on and stopped it before it struck any vehicles, police said.Raines has a criminal history in Tarrant County. Before Sunday, he had been arrested eight times since 2004 on suspicion of burglary, criminal trespass, evading arrest, assault and violation of protective orders, according to court records.Police said Raines also had previously been arrested on suspicion of DWI.Staff writer Marty Sabota contributed to this report.Domingo Ramirez Jr., 817-390-7763Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
