Posted 6/9/2017

By J. Noel Espinoza/Rio Grande Info

In a press conference Friday morning, Brownsville Police identified as Michael Diaz Garcia, the inmate

who killed a man while escaping and leading authorities on a high-speed chase Thursday afternoon along

Expressway 77 northbound.

Authorities said Garcia, also known as Miguel and who died after a shootout with police, wasn’t a stranger to law enforcement.

Brownsville Police officials said Garcia was arrested early this year for burglary of a home.

Garcia, 38, escaped custody from a jailer during a medical transport. He had prior arrests for assault, terrorists’ threats, and motor

vehicle citations.

After escaping, Garcia ran into a Brownsville home, fatally shot a homeowner, and stole a getaway vehicle.

The escapee, 38, led authorities on a high-speed chase that included dozens of vehicles of  law

enforcement agencies.

Cameron County Sheriff’s officials identified the jailer as Jose Tella, who was stabbed in the neck during

Garcia’s escape. Officials said Tella is in stable condition.

The high-speed chase kept motorists bewildered on the northbound expressway Thursday around 1:30 p.m. near the San

Benito and Harlingen area.

Officials said both Brownsville Police and the Cameron County Sheriff’s Department will continue their

own investigations regarding this incident.