Texas Police Officer Dies while Pursuing Car with Fake Tags

A Grand Prairie police officer was killed in a single-car crash Monday night after attempting to stop a car that had a fake paper license plate, the department announced Tuesday.

Officer Brandon Tsai, 32 was killed after his car struck a light pole, Grand Prairie police said. Around 10:45 p.m., Tsai noticed a car with fake tags near the intersection of Southwest 3rd Street and Pioneer Parkway.

“Officer Tsai attempted to stop the vehicle which immediately fled,” police spokesman Mark Beseda said in a statement. “During the pursuit, Officer Tsai lost control of his squad car causing it to strike a light pole.”

Tsai was taken by firefighters to Methodist Dallas Medical Center, where he died, Beseda said.

He had worked for the Grand Prairie Police Department since January. He previously worked at the Los Angeles Police Department in California for five years, authorities said.

“He was a loving friend, a trusted colleague and an outstanding officer whose passion was providing service to the public,” Beseda said in the statement.

The crash remains under investigation.

Fake paper tags have long been a headache for Texas law enforcement who say the tags, which are made with false names, VIN numbers and addresses, can be difficult for police to trace. Law enforcement agencies in Nevada and New York have complained false Texas tags are being used on vehicles involved in crimes.

Earlier this year, the head of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles resigned amid widespread criticism of the agency’s handling of the proliferation of fake tags.

The department has not announced funeral arrangements for Tsai.

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