A Montgomery County Precinct 4 Deputy Constable was on U.S. Highway 59 northbound when Dr. Felix Nabor Sabates Jr.‘s, 1973 Dodge Challenger sped by at more than 100 miles per hour. 

Deputy E. Rivera chased the vehicle to the 23400 block of Highway 59 near North Park Drive in front of the Montgomery Pines Apartments shortly before 11 a.m.

The traffic stop lead to the discovery of 100 morphine pills, around 60 Adderall tablets and over 80 Hydrocodone pills, along with a small grinder with the residue of a white powdery substance inside in the doctor’s vehicle. The doctor could not produce a prescription or documentation for any of the controlled substances in his possession.

Another 60 unmarked capsules were found and turned out to contain cocaine. Sebates claimed they were pills he and his nurse made for people who had heart attacks. 

“It was apparent he was in the medical field since he was in scrubs. He explained that he was traveling to a hospital in the Cleveland area to check on a patient, ” said Kenneth “Rowdy” Hayden, with the Montgomery County Precinct 4 Constable office.

Authorities said Sabates failed his field sobriety test and consented to having blood drawn for testing, but after reaching Kingwood Regional Medical Center, he refused. 

“A warrant was obtained from the District Attorney’s office within 45 minutes of his refusal to have his blood drawn,” said Hayden.

The warrant allowed an EMS supervisor to draw blood from the doctor before he was transported to the Montgomery County Jail.

According to the Texas Medical Board (TMB), Sabates’s primary practice is in Baytown but also maintains a practice in the Kingwood area.

The TMB records also show that Sabates’ has had previous drug abuse problems that date back to 1993 when he was evaluated for alcohol and cocaine abuse. That abuse led to his license being suspended in 1994 and reinstated in 1997 after four and a half years of sobriety.

Sabates is currently allowed to continue treating patients.  

The TMB said it must conduct an investigation and determine a doctor is a threat to the public before a license can be temporarily suspended.

Pct. 4 Constable Kenneth “Rowdy” Hayden said Sabates’ arrest was disturbing for many reasons.

“It’s difficult to understand how someone whose life is supposed to be devoted to saving people could endanger himself and others by driving at those speeds, and apparently while under the influence of narcotics,” Constable Hayden said. “I’m sure, just like we in law enforcement, Dr. Sabates has also seen the affects of narcotic abuse and reckless and intoxicated driving.”

The Constable applauded Deputy Rivera for following through with the investigation by not blindly accepting the doctor’s explanation because of his credentials.

“He took a dangerous driver and dangerous drugs off the streets, which are both among our top priorities,” Constable Hayden said.

Sabates’ bond was set at over $70,000. He has since been released from the Montgomery County Jail. The investigation is ongoing.