Investigators arrested an 18-year-old suspect after a captive passenger helped police track the car from inside the vehicle.
HOUSTON, Texas — An alleged armed carjacking turned into a high-speed police chase and ended with a crash on Washington Avenue after the victim secretly contacted 911 while he remained trapped inside his own car, authorities and the victim said.
Investigators identified the arrested suspect as 18-year-old DeShawn Johnson. They said Johnson is accused of entering James Cichon’s car at gunpoint in Houston’s Rice Military neighborhood, forcing Cichon into the passenger seat and driving away with him still inside.
The encounter remained relatively slow at first as the vehicle traveled about 2 miles, Cichon said. It became more dangerous after the driver learned that police had been alerted. Cichon said the car accelerated to an estimated 50 or 60 mph and traveled against traffic on a one-way street before the pursuit ended in a crash.
Cichon said he had just completed a day of dog walking for work and had been inside his 2006 gold Lincoln Zephyr for about a minute when someone knocked on the window. He said the armed man ordered him to move over and told him they were going for a ride.
After being warned not to do anything foolish, Cichon said he called 911 and lowered the phone’s volume so the driver could not hear the emergency operator. The suspect did not immediately take the phone from him, allowing dispatchers to continue listening, according to Cichon.
The driver faced another problem: He did not know the area well and needed directions. Cichon said the suspect had lived in Houston for only a few months and asked him where to go. That allowed Cichon to describe their route aloud without openly revealing that he was speaking for the benefit of police.
Cichon said his directions included Fagan Street, Durham Drive, Shepherd Drive and a Circle K near Interstate 10. He also mentioned the vehicle’s year, color and model as he warned the driver about crossing railroad tracks too quickly. The details gave police a clearer idea of which car to find and where it was traveling.
The situation changed when the driver apparently realized that Cichon had called authorities. “Oh, you called the cops. You called the cops,” Cichon recalled the suspect saying. The car then began moving much faster, he said.
The pursuit continued to Washington Avenue, where the vehicle crashed. Investigators said Johnson was arrested after the wreck. The available report did not describe the circumstances of the arrest, identify other vehicles involved in the crash or say whether anyone required hospital treatment.
Authorities had not released additional information about filed charges or Johnson’s next court appearance in the material available Friday. Johnson is accused in the carjacking, and the allegations remain subject to the court process.
Author note: Last updated July 24, 2026.