COLUMBUS — A Katy man is facing multiple felony charges after authorities say he fired a gun toward people at a construction site, stole a worker’s vehicle and led law enforcement on a pursuit before crashing into a canal Wednesday morning in neighboring Colorado County.

According to the Colorado County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched at approximately 10:47 a.m. on Wednesday, July 29, after receiving a 911 call reporting that an armed suspect had discharged a firearm in the direction of individuals at a construction site in the 2300 block of County Road 103 near Columbus.

Investigators said the suspect then allegedly stole a construction worker’s vehicle and fled the area.

While deputies were responding, authorities received information that the suspect may have been accompanied by a second individual. Law enforcement established a perimeter around the several-hundred-acre property while searching the area.

A Texas Parks and Wildlife game warden later spotted the stolen vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed on County Road 103 toward Highway 90 Alternate. According to the sheriff’s office, the suspect crashed the vehicle into a canal before fleeing on foot.

Deputies quickly located and arrested the suspect without further incident.

The Colorado County Sheriff’s Office also deployed its drone team while awaiting additional resources, including a Texas Department of Public Safety helicopter and K-9 units from the Waller County Sheriff’s Office, as investigators searched for a possible second suspect.

As the investigation continued, authorities determined the suspect had acted alone and that no accomplice was involved.

The suspect was identified as Robert Scheffel, 20, of Katy. He was transported to Rice Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries sustained in the crash before being medically cleared and booked into the Colorado County Jail.

No other injuries were reported.

Scheffel was booked on the following charges:

• Aggravated Robbery (First-Degree Felony)
• Burglary of a Habitation (Second-Degree Felony)
• Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle (State Jail Felony)
• Theft of a Firearm (State Jail Felony)

The Colorado County Sheriff’s Office thanked the Weimar Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Waller County Sheriff’s Office and Colorado County EMS for assisting during the incident.

All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.