Sheriff’s Investigators Seek Ronald Kirby After Pursuit

JANUARY 19, 2016.

PRESS RELEASE

Sheriff’s investigators are seeking a suspect who led deputies in a foot pursuit and stole a man’s pickup truck.

Sheriff’s deputies responded to a domestic disturbance Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016, in the 100 block of Quail Ridge Road, around 9 a.m., where the caller reported a man and woman in a verbal dispute. The incident was reported to have taken place on the side of the road. The woman was reported to be inside a green Dodge passenger car, with the male subject locked out side of the vehicle, punching the car.

A deputy arrived, observing the male and female both inside of the vehicle. The male subject identified himself to the deputy as “Matthew Kirby.” The deputy separated the couple to conduct an initial investigation. While speaking with the female subject, the male subject jumped a nearby fence and fled from the deputy on foot, just as another deputy had arrived on scene to assist in the investigation.

One deputy stayed with the female as the other deputy pursued the suspect on foot through a residential area, crossing FM 5, clearing fences and through several streets and private properties. The deputy chased the suspect to a residence in Stone Country Estates, where he observed him attempt to enter an SUV, but was unsuccessful due to it being locked. The deputy then observed the suspect enter a white Ford F150 pickup truck which was unlocked at another residence. The suspect then fled from the deputy in the truck.

Hudson Oaks and Willow Park Police responded to the scene to assist in the pursuit. The suspect drove down Saratoga Court where the suspect entered a private property. Hudson Oaks and Willow Park officers covered the front of the residence, while another Sheriff’s deputy ran on foot to the rear of the residence in order to locate the suspect, when he observed the suspect emerge from the backyard driving the F150 through the fence line, headed south on FM 5, eluding officers. Sheriff’s deputies and assisting officers got back into their patrol vehicles and attempted to locate the suspect in the area, but were unsuccessful.

Once back on scene at Quail Ridge Road, deputies spoke with the female, who identified the male as “Ronnie Kirby.” Sheriff’s deputies ran a check and identified the suspect as “Ronald Kenneth Kirby, 26.”

Kirby was found to have active warrants for a parole violation – resisting an officer from Austin Pardon and Parole, and for failure to appear – obstructing police from Burnet County.

Sheriff’s deputies are obtaining a warrant for Kirby’s arrest. Any person with knowledge of Kirby’s location is encouraged not to approach him and to contact the Sheriff’s Office immediately at (817) 594-8845.