Coryell County deputies arrest Copperas Cove parole fugitive after foot chase

A 3:11 p.m. assault call in Copperas Cove escalated into a foot chase, a parole-violation arrest and an injury to Coryell County’s canine officer, Drago.

Deputies with the Coryell County Sheriff’s Department were first sent to the report of an alleged assault in progress on April 25. When they investigated, they learned the suspect had fled on foot and later determined that Ralph Thomas Deharde of Copperas Cove had an active blue felony warrant and was believed to be armed and dangerous.

A concerned citizen then called at about 3:51 p.m. after spotting someone matching Deharde’s description coming out of a wooded area between Lutheran Church Road and Duncan Road. Officers found him in a heavily populated neighborhood, where he tried to run again by hopping a fence. According to the department account, Deharde ignored commands and kept placing his hands inside his waistband, a move that led deputies to release Drago.

The canine engaged Deharde, who was eventually taken into custody with minor injuries. Drago suffered an injury to one of his canine teeth and was examined by Coryell Veterinary Clinic.

The sheriff’s office said the arrest fit Sheriff Scott Williams’ ongoing effort to aggressively pursue people who pose a threat to the public. For Copperas Cove and nearby neighborhoods, the case showed how quickly a call that begins as a reported assault can spread into a wider safety response when a suspect runs, a weapon is feared and a second 911 tip places officers in a dense residential area.

A blue warrant is also known as a parole revocation warrant. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice says its Parole Division supervises offenders released from prison into Texas communities and issues warrants when parole conditions are violated. The Parole Division and Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles can then continue supervision, impose other sanctions or move to revoke parole. TDCJ also says pre-revocation warrants can trigger revocation hearings and extradition procedures, which is why officials treat a blue warrant as a serious public-safety matter.

No additional information was given about Deharde’s prior felony offense.