--- title: "Houston police officers commandeer Uber during foot chase" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/houston-police-officers-commandeer-uber-during-foot-chase" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/houston-police-officers-commandeer-uber-during-foot-chase" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/houston-police-officers-commandeer-uber-during-foot-chase.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/houston-police-officers-commandeer-uber-during-foot-chase" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-08-25T22:25:16.481Z" source_reported: "2026-08-25T19:08:45.000Z" updated: "2026-08-25T22:25:16.481Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 61 hype_score: 68 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-25T23:15:31.515867+00:00" --- # Houston police officers commandeer Uber during foot chase *Officers enlisted an Uber driver to help pursue a suspect who had allegedly threatened a woman and her child.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Two full reports and 38 digests provide details, with the central claim attributed to Houston PD. - Craft 61 of 100, higher is better. The story is well-reported with clear facts, but lacks quotes from affected parties and discussion of future actions. - Hype 68 of 100, lower is better. Headlines and digests use sensational language, and some outlets focus on the officers' perceived weight. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Houston police officers entered an Uber vehicle to pursue a suspect who had fled on foot. - The suspect had allegedly threatened to shoot a woman and her child. - The Uber driver, Anthony Baines, was on his way to pick up a rider when the incident occurred. - The suspect was not apprehended by the officers. Houston police officers entered an Uber vehicle to pursue a suspect who had fled on foot. The suspect had allegedly threatened to shoot a woman and her child. The Uber driver, Anthony Baines, was on his way to pick up a rider when the incident occurred. The suspect was not apprehended by the officers. ## Disagreement on officer details OpsLens and Louder With Crowder report that the officers were female. OpsLens also describes them as 'portly'. WVII/Fox Bangor describes the officers as 'out-of-shape Houston Police Department officers'. PerthNow and ABC 13 Houston report that one of the officers was female, and that Baines picked up the second officer. None of the other reports specify the gender or physical condition of the officers. ## What the coverage left out None of the left, centre, or right-rated reports mention that Houston police department policies on foot and motor vehicle pursuits do not specifically address this scenario, a fact reported by ABC 13 Houston. ## Who covered it Shares of the 38 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 3% (1) - Centre: 50% (19) - Right: 47% (18) 6 of 44 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-25T23:15:31.515867+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 7 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-26T00:00:27.752Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The Seattle Times led on the fact that officers jumped into an Uber because a suspect was outrunning them. The report stated that the Uber driver said he was 'absolutely shocked to be in that situation' and that it was 'one of those things you see in a movie'. ### Centre - Centre-rated reports led on the unusual nature of police using an Uber for a pursuit. ABC 13 Houston and WKRC highlighted that the chase occurred in an Uber rather than a patrol unit. ABC 13 Houston and KPRC-TV quoted the officers' instructions to the driver: 'Go..go..go..go..go'. ABC 13 Houston also noted that Houston police department policies on foot and motor vehicle pursuits do not specifically address this scenario. Audacy and WLTX reported that police jumped into the Uber during a threat call. KHOU 11 reported that an expert said the incident did not appear to violate HPD policy. ### Right - Right-rated reports focused on the surprise of the Uber driver and the perceived inadequacy of the police. Breitbart and American Wire News used headlines that highlighted the driver's shock and the commandeering of his vehicle. Bizpac Review and Entrepreneur also focused on the driver's experience. OpsLens and Louder With Crowder questioned the officers' competence, with Louder With Crowder stating the suspect 'still got away' and OpsLens focusing on the officers' weight. WVII/Fox Bangor and Fox News also noted the driver's surprise and the officers' use of his vehicle. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - veryLow: 1 - low: 3 - mixed: 12 - high: 11 - unknown: 6 - veryHigh: 11 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Breitbart](https://breitbart.com/local/2026/08/25/watch-houston-uber-driver-shocked-when-officers-jump-into-car-during-foot-chase-running-off-adrenaline) — Texas Uber Driver Shocked When Cops Jump into Car During Chase - [American Wire News](https://americanwirenews.com/uber-driver-gets-the-wildest-pickup-imaginable-when-cops-commandeer-his-ride-mid-chase) — Uber driver gets the wildest pickup imaginable when COPS commandeer his ride mid-chase - [Bizpac Review](https://bizpacreview.com/2026/08/25/uber-driver-gets-the-wildest-pickup-imaginable-when-cops-commandeer-his-ride-mid-chase-1656250) — Uber driver gets the wildest pickup imaginable when COPS commandeer his ride mid-chase - [Attack of the Fanboy](https://attackofthefanboy.com/news/go-go-texas-man-was-midway-through-a-regular-uber-ride-near-midnight-and-it-turned-into-him-chasing-a-fleeing-suspect-with-two-cops-in-his-car) — What Happened When an Ordinary Uber Ride Turned Into a Police Chase? - [Entrepreneur](https://entrepreneur.com/business-news/watch-houston-police-officers-jump-into-an-uber-drivers-car-to-chase-down-a-suspect) — Houston Police Officers Jump Into an Uber Driver's Car to Chase Down a Suspect - [WKRC](https://local12.com/news/nation-world/uber-driver-helps-police-chase-suspect-officers-jump-into-car-anthony-baines) — Uber driver helps police chase suspect after officers jump into his car - [The Seattle Times](https://seattletimes.com/nation-world/a-suspect-was-outrunning-the-police-so-the-officers-jumped-in-an-uber) — A suspect was outrunning the police. So the officers jumped in an Uber - [Audacy](https://audacy.com/krld/news/local/houston-police-jump-into-uber-during-foot-chase-after-threat-call) — Houston police jump into Uber during foot chase after threat call - [Tippahnews.com](https://tippahnews.com/national-news/dashcam-shows-houston-officers-jumping-into-uber-to-chase-suspect) — Dashcam shows Houston officers jumping into Uber to chase suspect - [Internewscast](https://internewscast.com/news/us/dashcam-shows-houston-uber-driver-pulled-into-police-chase) — Dashcam Shows Houston Uber Driver Pulled Into Police Chase - [¡Que Onda Magazine!](https://queondamagazine.com/houston-police-officers-asked-an-uber-driver-to-help-in-a-chase-was-he-required-to-say-yes) — Houston police officers asked an Uber driver to help in a chase. Was he required to say yes? » ¡Que Onda Magazine! - [democraticaccent.com](https://democraticaccent.com/houston-uber-driver-caught-in-wild-police-chase-as-officers-seen-on-dashcam-video-hitching-a-ride-in-his-car) — Houston Uber driver caught in wild police chase as officers seen on dashcam video hitching a ride in his car – Democratic Accent - [wfmd.com](https://wfmd.com/2026/08/24/houston-uber-driver-caught-in-wild-police-chase-as-officers-seen-on-dashcam-video-hitching-a-ride-in-his-car) — Houston Uber driver caught in wild police chase as officers seen on dashcam video hitching a ride in his car - [Fox News](https://foxnews.com/us/houston-uber-driver-caught-wild-police-chase-officers-seen-dashcam-video-hitching-ride-his-car) — Houston Uber driver caught in wild police chase as officers seen on dashcam video hitching a ride in his car - [OpsLens](https://opslens.com/how-is-this-not-satire-watch-portly-policewomen-demand-uber-driver-help-them-catch-fast-running-suspect-worldnetdaily-by-wnd-staff) — ‘How is this NOT satire?’ Watch portly policewomen demand Uber driver help them catch fast-running suspect * WorldNetDaily * by WND Staff - [WVII / Fox Bangor](https://foxbangor.com/news/national/entertainment/cops-get-help-from-uber-driver-during-foot-chase-in-houston/article_8343b320-b097-5908-ada2-fa5f500ecd60.html) — Cops Get Help From Uber Driver During Foot Chase in Houston - [Louder With Crowder](https://louderwithcrowder.com/uber-police-chase) — Out-of-Shape Female Cops Demand Uber Drive Chase Down Suspect, But The Bad Guy Still Got Away - [WND](https://wnd.com/2026/08/how-is-this-not-satire-watch-portly-policewomen) — ‘How is this NOT satire?’ Watch portly policewomen demand Uber driver help them catch fast-running suspect * WorldNetDaily * by WND Staff - [Liner.hu](https://liner.hu/houston-rendorok-uber-uldozes-videokamera) — Police Used Uber Instead of a Police Car to Track Down Fleeing Suspect - [TMZ](https://tmz.com/2026/08/24/police-officers-enlist-uber-driver-during-suspect-pursuit) — Cops Get Help From Uber Driver During Foot Chase in Houston - [Globo](https://oglobo.globo.com/mundo/epoca/noticia/2026/08/24/motorista-de-uber-em-horario-de-trabalho-e-recrutado-por-policial-e-participa-de-perseguicao-nos-eua-video.ghtml) — Uber Driver in Working Hours Is ‘Recruited by Police Officers and Participates in Persecution in the USA; Video - [PerthNow](https://perthnow.com.au/news/crime/police/anthony-baines-uber-driver-turned-action-hero-as-customer-pick-up-becomes-wild-police-chase-c-22770241) — ‘That way, go!’: Police jump in Uber during wild chase - [vidmax.com](https://vidmax.com/video/239307-lol-out-of-shape-houston-cops-too-slow-to-catch-suspect-so-they-hijack-an-uber-and-still-lose-him) — LOL, Out Of Shape Houston Cops Too Slow to Catch Suspect, So They Hijack an Uber and Still Lose Him - [Life and Liberty](https://thepatriotchronicles.com/news/watch-houston-officers-jump-into-uber-drivers-car-to-chase-fleeing-suspect-video) — Houston Officers Jump Into Uber Driver’s Car to Chase Fleeing Suspect - [abc 13 Houston](https://abc13.com/post/houston-officers-get-uber-chase-running-suspect-video-shows/19725144) — Houston officers get in Uber to chase running suspect, video shows - [Flying Eze](https://flyingeze.com/uber-driver-chase-fleeing-suspect) — Wild Scene: Cops Hop into Uber, Urging Driver to Chase Down... - [New York Post](https://nypost.com/2026/08/23/us-news/houston-cops-jump-in-uber-demand-driver-chase-down-fleeing-suspect-in-wild-video-clip) — Cops jump in Uber, demand driver chase down fleeing suspect in wild video clip: ‘Go, go, go, go!’ - [Protothema](https://protothema.gr/world/article/1868485/pame-pame-pame-astunomikoi-stis-ipa-pairnoun-taxi-gia-na-katadioxoun-upopto-kai-ginodai-viral-deite-video) — "Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go": Police Officers in the US Take a Taxi to Chase a Suspect and Go Viral, Watch Video - [The Gateway Pundit](https://thegatewaypundit.com/2026/08/wild-video-desperate-houston-policewomen-jump-shocked-uber) — WILD VIDEO: Desperate Houston Policewomen Jump Into Shocked Uber Driver’s Car to Pursue Fleet-Footed Suspect…And It Does Not End Well * The Gateway Pundit * by Cullen Linebarger - [NU](https://nu.nl/329557/video/amerikaanse-agenten-springen-in-uber-om-verdachte-te-achtervolgen.html) — American Officers Jump Into an Uber to Chase Suspect - [WLTX](https://wltx.com/article/news/nation-world/houston-police-couldnt-catch-a-fleeing-suspect-so-they-commandeered-an-uber/285-abed22d2-6ed8-42b9-974c-7a99e1257d48) — Houston police commandeered an Uber to chase a suspect. The driver had no idea what was happening. - [Hoodline](https://hoodline.com/2026/08/houston-cops-hop-into-uber-to-chase-suspect-after-pool-threat) — Houston Cops Hop Into Uber to Chase Suspect After Pool Threat - [KHOU 11](https://khou.com/article/news/local/houston-police-couldnt-catch-a-fleeing-suspect-so-they-commandeered-an-uber/285-abed22d2-6ed8-42b9-974c-7a99e1257d48) — Houston police couldn't catch a fleeing suspect, so they commandeered an Uber - [KSAT 12](https://ksat.com/news/local/2026/08/22/houston-police-jump-in-uber-while-in-pursuit-of-suspect-on-foot) — Houston police jump in Uber while in pursuit of suspect on foot - [KPRC-TV](https://click2houston.com/news/local/2026/08/21/houston-officers-jump-in-uber-for-help-chasing-running-suspect-gogogogogo) — Houston officers jump in Uber for help chasing running suspect: ‘Go..go..go..go..go’ - [Fox 10 Phoenix](https://fox10phoenix.com/news/houston-police-officers-commandeer-uber-vehicle-during-pursuit-suspect) — Houston police officers commandeer Uber vehicle during pursuit of suspect - [WOFL](https://fox35orlando.com/news/houston-police-officers-commandeer-uber-vehicle-during-pursuit-suspect) — Houston police officers commandeer Uber vehicle during pursuit of suspect - [Fox 9](https://fox9.com/news/houston-police-officers-commandeer-uber-vehicle-during-pursuit-suspect) — Houston police officers commandeer Uber vehicle during pursuit of suspect - [KDFW](https://fox4news.com/news/houston-police-officers-commandeer-uber-vehicle-during-pursuit-suspect) — Houston police officers commandeer Uber vehicle during pursuit of suspect - [Fox5 DC](https://fox5dc.com/news/houston-police-officers-commandeer-uber-vehicle-during-pursuit-suspect) — Houston police officers commandeer Uber vehicle during pursuit of suspect - [KRIV](https://fox26houston.com/news/houston-police-officers-commandeer-uber-vehicle-during-pursuit-suspect) — Houston police officers commandeer Uber vehicle during pursuit of suspect - [WNYW](https://fox5ny.com/news/houston-police-officers-commandeer-uber-vehicle-during-pursuit-suspect) — Houston police officers commandeer Uber vehicle during pursuit of suspect - [KTBC](https://fox7austin.com/news/houston-police-officers-commandeer-uber-vehicle-during-pursuit-suspect) — Houston police officers commandeer Uber vehicle during pursuit of suspect - [FOX 13 Seattle](https://fox13seattle.com/news/houston-police-officers-commandeer-uber-vehicle-during-pursuit-suspect) — Houston police officers commandeer Uber vehicle during pursuit of suspect ## Questions **What happened when police officers entered an Uber?** Houston police officers entered an Uber vehicle to pursue a suspect who had fled on foot. The Uber driver, Anthony Baines, was on his way to pick up a rider when the incident occurred. Officers instructed him to drive after the suspect, who had allegedly threatened to shoot a woman and her child. The suspect was not apprehended. **Did the Uber driver have to help the police?** According to PerthNow, Houston police union president Doug Griffin stated there is nothing prohibiting officers from enlisting a civilian's help, but also nothing compelling them to do so. The driver is not obligated to assist. The reports do not state whether police informed the driver of this. **Were the police officers involved in the Uber chase female?** OpsLens and Louder With Crowder reported that the officers were female. OpsLens also described them as 'portly'. WVII/Fox Bangor described them as 'out-of-shape'. PerthNow and ABC 13 Houston reported that one officer was female, and the driver picked up the second officer. Other reports did not specify the gender or physical condition of the officers. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/houston-police-officers-commandeer-uber-during-foot-chase. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Houston police officers commandeer Uber during foot chase", https://mediabias.news/politics/houston-police-officers-commandeer-uber-during-foot-chase