Pubdate: Tue, 27 Oct 1998
Source: Houston Chronicle (TX)
Contact:  http://www.chron.com/
Copyright: 1998 Houston Chronicle
Author: S.K. BARDWELL

SUSPECT KILLED BY OFFICERS IN FREEWAY CAR CHASE ID'D

A man killed by Houston police officers after a car chase down the Southwest
Freeway on Sunday has been identified as 24-year-old Derek Jason Kaeseman.

Kaeseman was shot at by seven officers, who said he had disregarded orders
to keep his hands in sight, reached under the seat of his truck, then began
climbing out the passenger-side window with something shiny in his hand.

The object was later determined to be a can opener, investigators said.

The chase began when two officers saw what they believed was a drug
transaction between a man in a truck and another man standing outside it
about 5:15 p.m. Sunday in the 2200 block of Bagby.

The second man then got in the truck, and they took off. The passenger,
27-year-old John Edick, leaped from the moving truck at Bagby and Tuam and
was taken into custody by one of the officers.

Edick, who told police that Kaeseman threatened to kill him if he didn't get
out of the truck, was released without charges Monday.

During the chase, officers said Kaeseman threw things from his truck, and
rammed a patrol car near Bellaire Boulevard.

The chase, which was joined by other patrol officers, ended in Stafford,
where Kaeseman got off the freeway at Corporate, then tried to drive across
the grass and re-enter the freeway, but crashed into a guardrail.

The shooting is being investigated by HPD's homicide and internal affairs
divisions, and by the Fort Bend County District Attorney's Office.

In July 1996, Kaeseman was fined for misdemeanor criminal mischief. He also
received a 180-day jail term for a misdemeanor charge of fleeing a police
officer.

Those involved in the shooting are Sgt. Antonio R. Guzman, 40, and Officers
Ruston K. Alsbrooks, 38; M.J. Manuel, 26; Tony N. Nguyen, 29; Leopoldo
Rubio-Ronso, 27; Tony Tomeo, 34; and S.W. Wilkins, 34.

Except for Guzman, who is a 20-year HPD veteran, the officers have been with
the department fewer than five years. They all have been reassigned, said
HPD spokesman Fred King.

- ---
Checked-by: Don Beck