Chase of robbery suspect through Arlington ends in wreck

A scene from a cops-and-robbers movie came to life Friday when a suspect in three morning robberies, also accused of stealing a BMW at gunpoint, was chased by police along major thoroughfares in Arlington, firing as he drove.

The suspect didn’t stop until he crashed into a pickup on West Division Street, knocking the truck on its side and injuring the three occupants.

Officers converged and arrested the man. He was identified as Dylan Perry, 38, and was hospitalized in serious condition Friday evening under police guard, Lt. Christopher Cook, a police spokesman, said in a news release.

It was unclear Friday whether Perry was shot or was injured in the wreck, police said.

The crime spree began at 9:20 a.m. in Mansfield, where police responded to a burglary call at a Valero gas station in the 1200 block of Farm Road 1187.

Ten minutes later, Mansfield police put out a bulletin about a robbery and carjacking at a Wells Fargo bank in the 3000 block of Matlock Road, said Sgt. Paul Rodriguez, a police spokesman.

In both locations, witnesses described a black man driving a blue Suburban, Mansfield police said in a news release.

About 10:30 a.m., Arlington police said, a robber matching that description robbed a Bank of America in the 1020 block of East Pioneer Parkway.

About 11 a.m., police got a call that a man had stolen a BMW at gunpoint from a car dealership at East Lamar Boulevard and Collins Street.

Rodriguez said Arlington police spotted the BMW about 11:10 a.m., traveling southbound on North Cooper Street. At West Sanford Street, just north of the main police station, multiple officers tried to pull him over.

“A gunbattle ensued there — an exchange of fire between officers and the suspect,” Rodriguez said.

No officers were hit, he said.

The BMW kept going south on Cooper to Division Street, where it turned west. At some point, the driver made a U-turn and fired at police behind him. He traveled a few more miles on Division and made another U-turn.

One officer fired as he made the U-turn, possibly striking Perry, according to police.

“The suspect makes a U-turn in the 2900 block of West Division Street. The vehicle travels in the wrong lane of traffic and strikes a red pickup,” Rodriguez said.

The pickup, with three people inside, was smashed. It rolled on its side, and the occupants had to be extricated by Arlington firefighters.

All three were taken to hospitals with what appeared to be serious injuries, Rodriguez said.

Division Street between Bowen and Crowley roads was closed for hours.

FBI investigators are working with Arlington police because of the bank robberies, a news release from Arlington police said.

“It was amazing that no officers or innocent citizens were killed during this gunman’s violent crime spree involving two bank robberies and two carjacking offenses. I am extremely proud of the heroic actions and response by our team of officers,” Police Chief Will Johnson said in a news release. “He presented a clear danger to our community, and I am thankful that our officers stopped him.”

Perry has several arrests and convictions for drug and firearm offenses. In 2000, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison for delivery of a controlled substance.

Staff writer Mitch Mitchell contributed to this report.

This story was originally published September 25, 2015 at 3:48 PM with the headline "Chase of robbery suspect through Arlington ends in wreck."