HARDIN COUNTY, Texas — A four-year veteran of the Sour Lake Police department remains in the hospital after allegedly being beaten by a 45-year-old Kentucky man, who is being held without bond on an out of state charge.
Bradley Joseph Pruitt, 45, is accused of brutally assaulting Sour Lake Police Officer William McKeon, Jr., 59, Monday night outside a Sour Lake convenience store.
Pruitt is from Bowling Green, Kentucky according to a Hardin County Sheriff's Office news release.
Pruitt was wanted by the Las Cruces, New Mexico District Attorney Office for failure to appear on an original case of possession of a firearm or destructive device and is held without bond on that out of state charge according to Hardin County Sheriff Mark Davis.
Pruitt, who is accused of taking the officer's service weapon, has been charged with aggravated assault on a public servant, aggravated assault, evading arrest with vehicle, unlawful possession of firearm by felon and take weapon from officer according to the release. The bonds for those charges total $4 million according to the release.
McKeon remains in critical condition in the ICU at Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont where he will be undergoing several surgeries after suffering traumatic head injuries from the beating according to Hardin County Sheriff Mark Davis.
Here’s what we know so far…
At about 8:30 p.m. Monday night Sour Lake Police Officer McKeon was dispatched to a call about an “unwanted person” the J & R Market at the intersection of Hwy 105 and 326 in Sour lake according to Sour Lake Police Chief Aaron Burleson.
Shortly after Officer McKeon’s arrival at the store a confrontation ensued and the suspect, later identified as a 45-year-old Kentucky man, severely beat McKeon leaving him with “traumatic head injuries” according to Burleson.
Sour Lake Police officer severely injured
The suspect the stole McKeon’s Sour lake Police SUV and fled heading north on Highway 326.
Officers initially thought McKeon had been shot as initial callers to dispatch reported hearing gunfire according to Hardin County Sheriff Mark Davis.
Firefighters and medics from the Sour Lake Volunteer Fire Department as well as Acadian Ambulance responded to the scene.
When officers arrived they also believed the officer may have been shot due to the amount of blood on his face and body Sheriff Davis said.
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Crystal Holmes also echoed this statement telling 12News that the initial call mentioned that an officer was down and had been shot.
Officer McKeon was transported by an Acadian Air Med helicopter to Christus St. Elizabeth hospital in Beaumont.
Holmes told 12News that it wasn’t discovered until McKeon arrived via helicopter at the Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital emergency room that he had not been shot but had been beaten.
Holmes also told 12News it is not uncommon for Jefferson County deputies to cross the county line to help respond in an emergency.
Officers and deputies and K-9 units from the Beaumont Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety joined Hardin County Sheriff’s deputies and Sour Lake Police officers in the search for the suspect.
Not long after police and deputies began searching, Officer McKeon’s abandoned Sour Lake Police SUV was found along Texas Highway 326 between Sour Lake and Kountze.
Officers and deputies from multiple agencies searched the area through the night. The suspect was believed to have been spotted at least twice overnight in the area of Laird Road and Texas 326 according to Sheriff Davis.
At daylight Tuesday morning troopers from the Texas Department of Public Safety took the suspect into custody in the 6400 block of Texas Highway 326 according to the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office.
The suspect is a 45-Year-old man from Kentucky and is believed to be a transient the sheriff’s office said. He was taken to the Hardin County Jail.
The suspect’s identity will be released later Tuesday once he is formally charged.
The Texas Rangers are leading the investigation with assistance from the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office and the Sour Lake Police department according to the sheriff’s office.
Hardin County Sheriff Mark Davis gave the all-clear to residents Tusday morning saying they believe there was only one suspect involved.
Officer McKeon remains in the ICU at Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital where he will be undergoing several surgeries according to Sheriff Davis who also asks that residents keep the officer their thoughts and prayers.
As of 10:45 a.m. Tuesday Sheriff Davis reports that Officer McKeon is now in “critical but stable condition” and though he has a long road to recovery he is expected to recover from his injuries.
Pruitt is charged and arraigned by 356th District Judge Steven Thomas according to a Hardin County Sheriff's Office news release.