Wichita Falls Man Sentenced to 40 Years After Violent Police Chase and Shooting Incident
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — Jonathan Slagle, a man involved in a dangerous police chase last year that ended in gunfire on a Wichita Falls golf course, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term.
Slagle, whose criminal history includes a series of serious charges, faced multiple counts, including aggravated assault on an officer, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, evading arrest, possession of a firearm by a felon, and theft. As part of a plea deal in the 89th District Court, Slagle was sentenced to 40 years in prison for each charge, with the sentences set to run concurrently. Several of the charges against him were dropped, including two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and multiple theft charges.
The case stems from a dramatic pursuit in July 2023. Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) special agents were surveilling Slagle and a woman in connection with outstanding arrest warrants on Lebanon Road. When the agents approached a suspected stolen U-Haul truck, Slagle reportedly drove the vehicle toward an agent, prompting the officer to fire a shot in self-defense.
The truck fled the scene, and a multi-agency pursuit ensued. Slagle, who has a history of using stolen U-Haul trucks to transport stolen goods, allegedly swerved toward a patrol car during the chase. After speeding through various streets, Slagle drove onto the Wichita Falls Country Club golf course, where gunshots were fired again. Slagle eventually abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot, but was apprehended after a brief pursuit.
Slagle’s criminal history includes prior prison sentences and arrests for offenses such as arson, injury to a child, evading arrest, and numerous parole violations. In October 2024, while still incarcerated, Slagle faced an additional aggravated assault charge after he and another inmate severely injured a third inmate in a violent altercation.
In 2011, Slagle was convicted for assisting three men in escaping from the Wichita County Jail Annex. He and his wife conspired to help the escapees, who were later caught at Slagle’s home, where his wife had prepared breakfast for them.
Slagle’s extensive criminal record and violent actions have led to his extended prison sentence, reflecting his ongoing threat to public safety.
