A high-speed pursuit on Highway 71 East resulted in the arrest of a driver and the voluntary surrender of a passenger on the morning of June 26, 2023. The incident, which began on the previous day, involved multiple law enforcement agencies and prompted authorities to issue a shelter-in-place alert to citizens in the Sunrise Beach area.

The pursuit commenced when a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) trooper pulled over a vehicle for a routine traffic violation on Highway 71 East. Instead of complying, the driver quickly fled the scene, initiating a chase that led officers through the City of Sunrise Beach. The suspect vehicle, traveling at a high rate of speed, managed to elude pursuing officers, disappearing from sight within Sunrise Beach.

Authorities later located the abandoned suspect vehicle on Barbara Lane in Sunrise Beach. Upon further investigation, it was determined that both the driver and a passenger had fled on foot. A comprehensive search was launched in the City of Sunrise Beach, with the following agencies joining forces: Texas Department of Public Safety troopers, Llano County Sheriff's Office, Sunrise Beach Police Department, Texas Game Wardens, and LCRA Rangers.

To ensure the safety of residents in the affected area, a reverse 911 call and text message were issued, urging citizens to shelter in place until further notice.

At approximately 5:30 pm, officers successfully apprehended the driver, identified as 50-year-old Clinton N. Johnson, a resident of Round Rock, Texas, located approximately a quarter of a mile away from the abandoned vehicle. Johnson was taken into custody by the DPS and faces charges of Felony Evading in a Vehicle.

The search for the passenger continued until the morning of June 26 when a concerned Sunrise Beach citizen approached an officer in the 300 block of Sandy Mountain Drive. The citizen reported a suspicious male matching the passenger's description. Acting swiftly, the Sunrise Beach Police Officer made contact with the 45-year-old white male, who confirmed his involvement as the passenger from the evading vehicle. As there was no active warrant for his arrest regarding the foot pursuit, the passenger was identified and released. Authorities noted his cooperation throughout the encounter, providing him with water and arranging transportation closer to his residence in the Austin area, where a friend would pick him up.

Both the driver and passenger had no known ties to the Sunrise Beach community. According to Chief of Police Laurie Brock, the driver attempted to flee as he mistakenly believed he had an active warrant. Chief Brock expressed gratitude to all the participating law enforcement agencies and the community for their support and assistance in locating both suspects.

Residents of Sunrise Beach can now resume their normal activities, knowing that both suspects have been accounted for and the situation has been resolved.