Press Releases
April 16, 2021 — Around 12:20 a.m., two San Angelo Police Officers were conducting a crash investigation in the 2100 block of North Bryant Boulevard when a vehicle collided with one of the officer’s unoccupied patrol unit.
The suspect, who was driving a 2000 Ford Red Focus, then fled the scene and a short vehicle pursuit ensued throughout the adjacent neighborhood.
The Focus became disabled after striking a curb and the driver, later identified as 17-year-old Aaron Martinez, was taken into custody without further incident.
Martinez was charged with Duty on Striking Unattended Vehicle, Evading Arrest Detention with Vehicle, Driving Under the Influence, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
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The San Angelo Police Department is celebrating the retirement of Police Service Dog Duke.
Duke, a Belgian Malinois, joined the Department in May 2013. He officially served the Department for 7 years and 10 months.
Duke has made the news many times throughout his distinguished career. His official stats are as follows:
Narcotics Utilization:
Exterior Vehicle - 261 with 167 confirmed/finds
Interior Vehicle Search – 45 with 42 confirmed/finds
Building Search – 58 with 32 confirmed/finds
Felony Narcotics Arrests – 11
Felony Narcotics Assists – 94
Misdemeanor Narcotics Arrests – 17
Misdemeanor Narcotics Assists – 43
Felony Narcotics Assists – 94
Misdemeanor Narcotics Arrests – 17
Misdemeanor Narcotics Assists – 43
Law Enforcement Utilization:
Tracks – 36 with 13 confirmed/finds
Felony Arrests – 15
Felony Assists – 52
Misdemeanor Arrests – 25
Misdemeanor Assists – 57
Callouts:
Responded to 364 ‘request for K9’
Crimes in Progress – 260
Fleeing/Hiding Suspects – 112
Alarm Calls – 121
Assist Other Agencies – 85
Drugs Located/Seized:
Marijuana – 7,368 grams
Cocaine – 530 grams
Crack Cocaine - 248.grams
Methamphetamine – 3,999 grams
Heroin – 208 grams
Duke is currently spending his retirement lounging about the home of his most recent handler.
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On 04/03/2021 at approximately 2105 hours, SAPD Dispatch was notified of a call for an unknown problem in the 800 block of Childress. Officers arrived on scene at approximately 2110 hours and located a shooting victim, identified as 24-year-old Sterling McCain, along with two additional persons, identified as Ian Smith and Myan McCain. Medics confirmed Sterling McCain was deceased on scene. SAPD Criminal Investigation Division Detectives took over the investigation.
Information obtained by SAPD Detectives from the scene, and interviews with the named parties, indicated a possible domestic disturbance which lead to Ian Smith shooting Sterling McCain.
At the conclusion of the initial investigation, Ian Smith was charged with Murder, and was booked in to Tom Green County Jail.
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The 17-year-old driver involved in the March 18, 2021, fatal crash at Avenue N and South Bryant Boulevard has been charged with Evading Arrest Detention Causing Death.
Prior to the crash, Gonzales was operating a gray Chevrolet Equinox traveling south on South Bryant exceeding speeds of ten (10) miles per hour above the posted speed limit.
A San Angelo Police Department Traffic Officer who was working stationary radar traffic enforcement observed the violation and activated his emergency lights to conduct a traffic stop; however, Gonzales failed to stop, accelerated, ran a red light, and collided with another vehicle. The crash resulted in the death of three of Gonzales’s four passengers — a 16-year-old male was pronounced deceased at the scene and a 17-year-old female was later pronounced deceased at Shannon Medical Center. A 12-year-old male passenger was pronounced deceased at Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas, late last night.
Gonzales has been incarcerated in the Tom Green County Jail since March 19, 2021, on unrelated charges. Gonzales’s bond was set at $150,000.00.
Additional charges are pending the outcome of this ongoing investigation.
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March 26, 2021— The 12-year-old male passenger who was critically injured in the March 18, 2021, fatal crash at Avenue N and South Bryant Boulevard has succumbed to his injuries.
The boy had been receiving treatment at Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas.
Two of the Equinox’s four passengers succumbed to their injuries on the day of the crash. A 16-year-old male was pronounced deceased at the scene and a 17-year-old female was later pronounced deceased at Shannon Medical Center. The driver of the Equinox, a 17-year-old San Angelo resident, was treated at Shannon Medical Center for incapacitating injuries and later released.
This is an active investigation and no additional information is available for release.
[Original press release: http://www.sanangelopolice.org/articles/view/fatal-crash-at-w-avenue-n-s-bryant-claims-two-lives-6053bef4-f128-4a1d-aa04-2e890a1ed479]
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42-year-old Jose Luis Alvarez Jr. of San Angelo has been sentenced to twenty-nine (29) years in federal prison for his involvement in an ongoing Narcotics Trafficking Investigation spearheaded by the San Angelo Police Department’s Street Crimes Division (SCD).
The sentence, issued by United States District Court Judge James Wesley Hendrix, stems from the seizure of approximately five (5) pounds of Methamphetamine, guns, and cash from a residence located in the 700 block of East 17th Street on January 10, 2020. The Department’s K9 Unit and co-investigators with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration assisted with the execution of the warrant and subsequent seizure.
The Street Crimes Division of the San Angelo Police Department is responsible for identifying illegal narcotics distribution sources affecting our community. Working in concert with numerous other resources in our community as well as across the state, the Street Crimes Division proactively employs investigative methods that have a positive impact on local illicit drug trafficking, drug abusers, and decreases the availability of controlled substances in San Angelo.
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On Tuesday, March 23, 2021, detectives with the San Angelo Police Department’s Street Crimes Division executed a Search Warrant for narcotics at a residence located in the 900 block of North Monroe Street.
During the search, detectives located and seized approximately 2.8 pounds of suspected Methamphetamine, approximately $2,500.00 in US Currency, and a firearm.
Charges are pending the outcome of this ongoing investigation.
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March 18, 2021 — Just after 6:00 a.m., a San Angelo Police Department Traffic Officer who was conducting traffic enforcement near the 1300 block of South Bryant Boulevard observed a gray Chevrolet Equinox traveling south on S. Bryant exceeding speeds of ten (10) miles per hour above the posted speed limit.
The officer attempted to catch up to the Equinox in order to conduct a traffic stop; however, the Equinox accelerated, ran the red light at Avenue N, and collided with another vehicle. The secondary vehicle fled the scene.
The driver of the Equinox, a 17-year-old San Angelo resident who was ejected from the vehicle, was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of incapacitating injuries. Two of the Equinox’s four passengers succumbed to their injuries — a 16-year-old male was pronounced deceased at the scene and a 17-year-old female was later pronounced deceased at Shannon Medical Center. The remaining male passengers, ages 12 and 16, are currently undergoing treatment for incapacitating injuries. Justice of the Peace J.P. McGuire responded to the investigation.
Preliminary evidence recovered at the crash scene indicated the hit and run vehicle was a light-colored 2001-2005 Ford Escape Sport or Sport Trac. Upon learning the information, police issued a Citywide Nixle Alert for citizens to be on the lookout for the vehicle. Soon after, a citizen who had received the Nixle Alert observed a damaged tan-colored Explorer Sport Trac unoccupied and abandoned on the West Loop 306 Frontage Road near Knickerbocker Road. Officers responded to the vehicle’s location and noted that it had damage consistent with the crash. The vehicle was seized for processing.
Through follow-up investigation, the Department’s Traffic Unit and Criminal Investigations Division discovered information about the suspect’s identity and possible whereabouts. The driver, later identified as 24-year-old Benjamin Elder, was located at a residence in the 2500 block of A & M Avenue.
At the conclusion of the investigation, Elder was booked into the Tom Green County Jail for Accident Involving Death.
This is an ongoing investigation and no additional information is available for release at this time.
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On Saturday, March 13, 2021, officials with the Texas Department of Public Safety arrested 54-year-old Abel Nandin of San Angelo for the offense of Driving While Intoxicated.
Nandin, who has served with the San Angelo Police Department for twenty-two (22) years, will be subject to both criminal and administrative investigations.
Nandin was off duty when the incident occurred.
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On Saturday, March 13, 2021, officials with the Texas Department of Public Safety arrested 54-year-old Abel Nandin of San Angelo for the offense of Driving While Intoxicated.
Nandin, who has served with the San Angelo Police Department for twenty-two (22) years, will be subject to both criminal and administrative investigations.
Nandin was off duty when the incident occurred.
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