(October 16, 2007)

TAFT-- A pair of suspected purse snatchers are now behind bars after leading officers on a high speed chase through San Patricio and Aransas County.

It all began when officers from the Portland Police Department went to Taft looking for a pair of suspects wanted for taking a senior citizen's purse. When police apporached the pair.The suspects took off. That 50 mile chase ended when the driver crashed the car into a road sign at an intersection outside of Taft.

The suspects took law officers across two counties in the area through the back roads of San Patrico county and then on to Aransas Pass and as far as Rockport before ending up back in Taft.

Police said at times the woman driver got up to more than 100 miles per hour, creating a dangerous situation on the roads.

"We tried to put down spikes there were numerous agencies invovled," said Lt. Dena Gonzalez of the Portland Police Department. "At one time, there was almost a head on because they got into the line of travel for another motorist. but yes it was dangerous."

Police said the suspects, a man and a woman, suffered no injuries in the high speed pursuit. During the chase, they damaged four police cruisers. They were arrested at the scene and will face several charges.

It's believe they may be involved with a string of purse snatchings in Corpus Christi and San Patricio County. Portland Police said they will be working with two or three other agencies to investigate the robberies. For now, the suspects are in the San Patricio County Jail.

--Manuel De La Rosa, Area 3 News, mdelarosa@kiiitv.com