This 1,080HP modified Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye went from outrunning the cops to being driven by them after being seized by Texas DPS
Published on Sep 12, 2026 at 10:02 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Sep 12, 2026 at 10:02 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Ben Thompson
This incredible 1,080hp and highly modified Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye muscle car went from outrunning the Texas cops to being driven by them after the police seized the car.
The incident took place in 2021, after police had seized the Dodge following its driver allegedly fleeing from a street racing incident.
Normally, if a car is seized in this manner and if ownership is transferred to the force, it is auctioned off.
However, the Texas Department of Public Safety had other ideas, as the car was transformed into the ultimate police patrol vehicle.
Why the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye was seized
According to social media posts and news reports, the car involved in the street racing incident was this Dodge.
The Dodge Challenger had fled police at a speed of 160mph, and the police managed to seize the car and arrest the owner.
The car had been doing these terrifying speeds on public roads.
After the case was settled, a judge then awarded the car to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Normal practice would be to auction the car off and raise funds for the police forces via that auction.
However, it was decided to convert the car into a fully marked Texas Highway Patrol vehicle.
And they did more than just give the car a few extra stickers.
This is how the Dodge became a police vehicle
The car was repainted into a black-and-white Texas Highway Patrol Vehicle livery.
It also gained emergency lights and a police radio, but this was more than just a gimmick.
The police force confirmed that the Dodge Challenger would be used in a traffic enforcement role.
They would also use the car at community events around the state and as a recruitment tool for the force.
With 1,080hp under the hood, it had instantly become one of the most powerful police vehicles in the world.
Following the incident in 2021, the car was put into service with the Texas police force in January 2022.
The hunt for the muscle car was a remarkable one
The actual chase for this muscle car was fraught with danger.
On April 25th 2021, a Texas DPS aircraft had spotted two vehicles engaged in dangerous street racing.
The racing was taking place on I-10 westbound near Gessner Road.
One DPS trooper attempted to stop the Dodge, but the driver fled the scene.
It became an incredibly dangerous chase, with the aircraft keeping officers updated as to where the car was.
Eventually, the Dodge muscle car ran out of fuel near I-10 on the West Sam Houston Parkway.
The driver of the car attempted to flee on foot and hide by locking himself inside buildings.
He was eventually taken into custody.
Dodge Challenger timeline
Fall 1969: The original muscle car debuts as a 1970 model featuring numerous engine options
1974: Declining pony car sales lead to the discontinuation of the first generation
1978: The famous nameplate returns on a rebadged four-cylinder Mitsubishi coupe
1983: Production of this smaller second-generation captive import officially ends
2006: A retro-styled concept version is unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show
2008: The third generation officially goes on sale to rival other modern performance cars
2015: A major facelift brings interior upgrades and the 707-horsepower Hellcat
2018: The 840-horsepower Demon trim launches specifically for elite drag racing
Early 2023: The 1,025-horsepower Demon 170 is introduced as the ultimate V8 finale
Late 2023: Assembly of the long-running modern era officially wraps up
Henry joined the Supercar Blondie team in February 2025, and since then has covered a wide array of topics ranging from EVs, American barn finds, and the odd Cold War jet. He’s combined his passion for cars with his keen interest in motorsport and his side hustle as a volunteer steam locomotive fireman at a heritage steam railway.
