Cops Get Help From Uber Driver During Foot Chase in Houston

An Uber driver in Texas had a couple of unexpected passengers during a late-night shift ... a couple out-of-shape Houston Police Department officers ... and he helped them track down a suspect.

Anthony Baines was stopped at a corner when his dash cam caught a shirtless man running from two female HPD officers. The dude was way ahead of them, and the cop who was dragging behind stopped running and got in Anthony's car, telling Anthony to drive after the perp.

The officer is still trying to catch her breath as she orders Anthony to pick up her partner ... and then they spend a few minutes driving around the neighborhood until they find their suspect.

Anthony says the whole interaction "caught me completely off guard. I've never had anything like that happen driving. I was surprised but just did what the officer asked in the moment."

HPD had reportedly been called for a "terroristic threat" about a suspect allegedly threatening to shoot a woman and her kids at a pool.

When the responding cops tried to detain him, he broke free ... and that's when he took off on foot.