On October 29, 2024, Officer Solis and Officer Rhodes responded to a call at the First National Bank of Bellville involving a female suspect attempting to cash a fraudulent check. Before their arrival, the suspect had already left the bank premises in a vehicle.
The officers soon located the suspect’s vehicle traveling on FM 1456 toward Buckhorn and initiated a traffic stop. The driver, however, refused to pull over, leading the officers on a brief pursuit. During the chase, the driver began discarding what was later determined to be additional checks. The pursuit ended on Jackson Road, with Deputy Ream from the Austin County Sheriff’s Office providing crucial backup.
The driver was identified as Michele Rene Bryan, 58, from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Upon investigation, Bryan was found to be in possession of both liquid and powdered forms of fentanyl, as well as crack cocaine. Further examination revealed that Bryan had previously stolen $3,200 from an account using a stolen ID and debit/credit card. On October 28, 2024, Bryan also attempted to cash another check worth $2,679 in a different name. Her latest attempt on October 29 involved a check for $2,896, which bank staff identified as suspicious and prevented from being cashed.
Bryan, who has outstanding warrants in Florida, was booked into the Austin County Jail on multiple charges, including:
Evading Arrest/Detention
Tampering with Physical Evidence
Possession of Controlled Substances (various counts and felony classifications)
Forgery of Checks/Financial Instruments
Fraudulent Use/Possession of Identifying Information (multiple items)
Failure to Identify (Fugitive from Justice)
Active Warrants from Florida
This incident underscores the diligence of local law enforcement in maintaining financial and public safety within Austin County.
