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Man who shot at deputy still free


Julye Keeble

Staff writer

The Uvalde County Sheriff’s Office is searching for Dustin Whitlock, 29, of Rio Frio, who is wanted on an active felony warrant for the attempted capital murder of a UCSO deputy.

Whitlock is a registered sex offender and is considered armed and dangerous, according to Uvalde County Sheriff Charles Mendeke.

“I’m hunting this individual down who tried to kill one of my deputies,” Mendeke said. “This is an extremely active search.”

He is utilizing every resource at his disposal, including assistance from the Texas Rangers and the U.S. Marshals Service, to catch Whitlock, and the manhunt is ongoing.

The incident began Saturday at approximately 9:28 p.m. when a sheriff’s deputy initiated a traffic stop for a non-working third brake light near the intersection of U.S. Highway 83 North and Farm to Market Road 1050 in Uvalde County.

Whitlock, the sole occupant of the vehicle, sped away from the stop and the UCSO deputy pursued him into Real County, where he was joined by the Garner State Park police. When fleeing in the vehicle, Whitlock threw an object from inside his vehicle towards the deputies’ vehicle.

At approximately 9:52 p.m., Whitlock crashed his vehicle into a tree on private property located off Farm to Market Road 1120 in Real County, approximately half a mile east of U.S. Highway 83 in Leakey.

The deputy and Whitlock exchanged gunfire, with Whitlock’s bullets striking the deputy’s patrol unit multiple times before he fled the scene on foot.

Multiple agencies assisted the UCSO with the ensuing search, including the Real County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Game Wardens, Texas Highway Patrol, Border Patrol Agents and BORTAC, Real County Constable and the Texas Rangers.

Whitlock, who is a white male, stands 5 feet, 11 inches tall with brown hair and green eyes. He was last seen at the crash location off FM 1120 in Leakey. Area residents are encouraged to be vigilant and contact law enforcement with any reports of suspicious activity.

Uvalde communications dispatch may be reached at 830-278-9147 or the Real County Sheriff’s Office may be contacted at 830-232-5201.

Prior offense

Whitlock is a registered sex offender, charged with indecency with a 14-year-old child by exposure. He was convicted in 2011 and required mandatory supervision for three years. He is required to register on the sex offender database annually until 2028.

Dustiin Whitlock

Dustiin Whitlock

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