Texas Rangers investigating officer involved shooting in Flatonia – KWHI.com

Texas Rangers were called to investigate an officer connected to a shooting that occurred Monday evening in Flatonia.

Flatonia Police were dispatched to the Timewise Convenience Store for a report of a “person in crisis” at 5 p.m. The call came from a Lavaca County police officer who happened to be at the business at the time observing the situation.

Officer Wilbert “Billy” Kalina arrived on scene, located the perpetrator and determined that he posed a credible threat to himself. Flatonia Police Chief Lee Dick told the Fayette County Record that the suspect had threatened suicide and had a gun.

Ultimately, the man was taken into custody and the psychiatric authorities were called.

During the arrest, the perpetrator managed to move the handcuffs from behind his back to front. Chief Dick said he then tried to use the handcuffs to choke Officer Kalina. During the fight, Kalina fired a firearm and struck the victim.

Passers-by helped to overpower the man. Other law enforcement agencies and the Fayette County Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene.

Kalina and the subject were taken to various hospitals, where they were treated and released.

The suspect, identified in Fayette County records as 33-year-old Brandon Durst of San Antonio, was arrested and taken to the William Justice Center. Dan R. Beck in La Grange, where he was charged with assaulting a peace officer.

According to Chief Dick, calling Texas Rangers to come and investigate a shooting is standard procedure.