DeKALB, Texas-A DeKalb man arrested Sunday in connection with the shooting of two deputies is being held on what collectively amounts to more than a $3 million bail.
Bryan Lee Batchelor, 48, is being held on a $1 million bail for each charge of aggravated assault on three public servants as well as a $50,000 for evading arrest with a vehicle, Bowie County Chief Deputy Jeff Neal said.
Deputies were dispatched at about 12:20 a.m. Sunday to assist the DeKalb Volunteer Fire Department with a house fire in the 4600 block of Farm to Market Road 44 East, Neal said.
They were told the homeowner (Batchelor) did not want them to put out the fire and was pointing a firearm at the firefighters.
Batchelor jumped into his truck and drove into a pasture to elude deputies as they arrived. From that point forward the sheriff's office spent two hours attempting the arrest Batchelor as he eluded capture as well as exchanging gunfire with deputies twice, in addition to hitting and damaging three law-enforcement vehicles.
Deputy Eric McMillian was the first to arrive and Deputy Westin Fannin, who is also a member of the DVFD, rode with McMillian to find Batchelor.
While the two deputies were driving through a field, trying to reach Batchelor, their vehicle became stuck. Batchelor allegedly rammed the Bowie County vehicle with the two deputies inside. He then shot at the deputies several times while they returned gunfire, according to Neal's initial report.
Neal said the gunfire resulted in Batchelor suffering several gunshot wounds while both deputies were also shot but not critically injured. He said he could not disclose the locations of their wounds because their injuries are part of an ongoing investigation.
Batchelor then allegedly fled in his vehicle and was eventually spotted on County Road 4241 by Deputy Clint Freeman. When their vehicles met, Freeman reportedly could see that Batchelor had intentions of running his truck into the deputy's patrol unit.
Freeman unsuccessfully tried to avoid a collision, which left the deputy's vehicle inoperable. The incident has led to a charge of aggravated assault. And because this damage is still under investigation, Neal said he couldn't comment further.
By this time in the pursuit, deputies had lost sight of Batchelor. Nevertheless, Lt. Chris Allison and Deputy Martin McGee continued looking for Batchelor and they eventually found him on County Road 4235 when Batchelor turned on his truck's exterior lights. The amount of time that passed between when Batchelor hit
Freeman's patrol car and when Allison and McGee found Batchelor on County Road 4235 is also still under investigation, Neal said.
Batchelor then allegedly crashed his truck into their patrol unit. Neal also declined to comment on what part of Allison's vehicle had been hit as that, too, is still under investigation.
A second exchange of gunfire took place at the County Road 235 location, but deputies were able to take Batchelor into custody and treat his injuries until medical personnel arrived at 2:19 a.m., Neal said
Bowie County Sheriff James Prince previously said that Batchelor had received at least one gunshot wound during at least one of the two gunfire exchanges. During this second gunfire exchange, deputies were able to subdue him and take him into custody.
Batchelor was taken to a local hospital, where he remains for medical treatment and in custody, Neal said.
The injured deputies have been treated and released.
Neal said the sheriff's office is also investigating the possibility of additional criminal charges.