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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Additional Release on Northside San Angelo Homicide Investigation
The San Angelo Police Department has been investigating a homicide that occurred on February 9, 2021 at the Cheyenne Crossing Apartments, 17 West 31St Street. As previously advised in the first press release this case remained an ongoing investigation.
Through the course of this investigation probable cause was developed leading detectives to apply for an arrest warrant for the charge of murder that was granted by a judge on March 4, 2021.
The San Angelo Police Department Anti-Crime Unit located and arrested 23-year-old San Angelo resident, Sydney Kennon for the murder warrant. This is an ongoing investigation and no other information is available for release at this time.
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This week, Investigators with the San Angelo Police Department’s Street Crimes Division executed a Search Warrant for narcotics at a residence located in the 1200 block of Gregory Drive. The warrant was issued by District Judge Ben Woodward.
During the search, investigators located and seized a quantity of THC, Xanax, Oxycodone, and approximately $15K.
36-year-old Whitney Hardin of San Angelo was subsequently charged with Manufacture Delivery Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, Manufacture Delivery Controlled Substance Penalty Group 3/4, and Possession of Controlled Substance Penalty Group 2.
The Department’s K-9 Unit assisted with the warrant operation.
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The San Angelo Police Department’s Traffic Section is investigating a motorcycle fatality crash that occurred at approximately 9:30 p.m. Wednesday night at the intersection of West Avenue L and South Bryant Boulevard.
When officers arrived, they located the unresponsive male motorcyclist receiving Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) from a bystander. Officers attempted to render aid by applying a CAT Tourniquet and continuation of CPR but the man succumbed to his injuries at the scene. Justice of the Peace Eddie Howard formally pronounced the man deceased.
The preliminary field-investigation revealed the decedent was traveling Northbound in the 1600 block of South Bryant Boulevard operating a 2009 Yamaha YZF motorcycle at a high rate of speed when he collided with a white 2016 Dodge Charger that was turning eastbound at the intersection at West Avenue L from South Bryant Boulevard. The decedent was identified as 33-year-old Casey Wood of San Angelo. The operator of the Charger, a 24-year-old San Angelo man, was not injured.
This is an ongoing investigation and no additional information is available for release at this time.
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On Monday, March 1, 2021, Detectives with the San Angelo Police Department’s Street Crimes Division executed a Search Warrant at a residence located in the 900 block of East 14th Street.
The warrant, issued by District Judge Jay Weatherby, named 47-year-old Veronica Pena to be in possession of a quantity of Methamphetamine at the residence.
Subsequent to the search, a quantity of suspected Methamphetamine was located and seized. Pena, who was located at the residence, was detained during the search.
Pena was later charged with First Degree Felony Manufacture Delivery of Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 and booked into the Tom Green County Jail. Bond was set at $75K.
Members of the Center for Tactical Medicine and the Department's K-9 Unit assisted with yesterday’s warrant operation.
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On Thursday, February 25, 2021, San Angelo Police were dispatched to the Resort at Riverside Apartments on North Bryant Boulevard just before 1:30 a.m. for the report of a shooting victim. Upon arrival, officers located a deceased male who was later identified as 18-year-old Rey C. Robles. Justice of the Peace Susan Werner responded to the scene. An autopsy was ordered.
Pursuant to a lengthy investigation involving members of the Department’s Criminal Investigations Division, Patrol Division, Street Crimes Division, Anti-Crime Unit, Gang Unit, and Crime Scene Investigations Unit, probable cause was obtained to secure a warrant of arrest for the charge of Murder for 21-year-old Mauricio Portillo. Portillo was taken into custody late last night and booked into the Tom Green County Jail where he is currently being held without bond.
Two other involved parties to the investigation are also facing charges. 20-year-old Nathan Gonzalez was charged with Felony Manufacture Delivery Controlled Substance Penalty Group 2 or 2A and 21-year-old Sierra Camarillo was charged with Tampering/Fabricate Physical Evidence with Intent to Impair.
This is an ongoing investigation and no other information is available for release at this time.
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28-year-old Matthew Dominguez of San Angelo has been charged with Aggravated Assault with Deadly Weapon in connection to the February 24, 2021shooting of a 24-year-old San Angelo woman following an altercation at the Super 8 Motel, 410 West Avenue L.
On Thursday, February 25, 2021, members of the San Angelo Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division and Anti-Crime Unit coordinated Dominguez’s apprehension during a Warrant Apprehension Operation at a residence located in the 3800 block of Sunset Drive.
Dominguez, who was developed as a suspect very early on in the investigation, is being held without bond in the Tom Green County Jail.
The victim’s injuries were listed as serious and she is reported to be in stable condition.
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This week, Investigators with the San Angelo Police Department’s Street Crimes Division executed a Search Warrant at a residence located in the 1700 block of Ellis Street.
The warrant named 31-year-old Roy Russell to be in possession of a quantity of Methamphetamine at the residence.
Russell and two adults were located and detained during the search, which yielded a quantity of Methamphetamine, approximately $1K in US Currency, and three (3) guns.
Russell was arrested on outstanding warrants. Additional charges are pending the outcome of this ongoing investigation.
The Department’s Patrol Division, K9 Unit, and SWAT Team assisted with the investigation.
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February 24, 2021 — The San Angelo Police Department is investigating a shooting that was reported just before 7:00 a.m.
Police were dispatched to Shannon Medical center for the report of a gunshot victim who had been dropped off by a private vehicle. The victim, a 24-year-old local woman, underwent emergency surgery for injuries she sustained in the incident. Her condition is listed as serious.
The incident may have stemmed from an altercation that occurred at the Super 8 Motel, 410 West Avenue L.
If you have any information about the identity or whereabouts of the suspect(s) involved in this incident, please contact the San Angelo Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division at (325) 657-4264 or 659-8017. To remain anonymous, tip online at http://bit.ly/SAPDTips247 or by text: text TIP SAPD to 888777 and follow the prompts. Tips sent through the Crime Stoppers P3 Tips App and 24/7 Anonymous Tip Hotline (325) 658-HELP (4357) may be eligible for a reward if the information leads to an arrest(s).
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A Sunday afternoon stolen vehicle pursuit that began in east San Angelo ended in the upper bluffs with one arrest. The vehicle’s driver is still on the lam.
The pursuit began just before 3:30 p.m. when officers spotted a stolen 2007 Lincoln Town Car in East San Angelo. A traffic stop was initiated but the vehicle’s driver failed to stop and a pursuit ensued all the way to the Bluff’s neighborhood in West San Angelo.
The vehicle, located abandoned in the 600 block of Avondale, had been reported stolen from the 800 block of East 19th Street on February 8, 2021. One of the vehicle’s occupants, identified as 21-year-old Arnulfo Arreola of San Angelo, was apprehended after a brief foot pursuit. Arreola was charged with Evading Arrest Detention.
Police are still searching for the vehicle’s driver, who was described as a Hispanic male with an average build, approximately 5’09”-5’10”, wearing a purple jersey and dark-colored pants. Police seized a large amount of property from the vehicle, including drug paraphernalia, a crossbow, and cash.
If you have information about the suspect’s identity and whereabouts, please contact the San Angelo Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division at (325) 657-4264. To remain anonymous, contact tip online at http://bit.ly/SAPDTips247 or by text: text TIP SAPD to 888777 and follow the prompts. A reward may be offered if the tip is received through the Crime Stoppers P3 Tips App or their 24/7 Anonymous Tip Hotline (325) 658-HELP (4357).
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The San Angelo Police Department is investigating a homicide that occurred yesterday afternoon at the Cheyenne Crossing Apartments, 17 West 31St Street.
Police were dispatched to the location just after 2:30 p.m. on February 9, 2021, for the report of a shooting victim. While en route, officers learned that the alleged female suspect had fled the scene on West 31st towards Grape Creek Road.
Responding officers located the victim lying in the parking lot of the complex, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the torso. The victim was transported to Shannon Medical Center by ambulance but later succumbed to his injuries. The victim was identified as 51-year-old Roy Perez Sr. of San Angelo.
The alleged suspect was located by officers at West 32nd and Grape Creek Road and taken into custody without incident. The woman, a 23-year-old San Angelo resident, was transported to the Department’s Criminal Investigations Division Annex Office for a formal interview.
Several witnesses and residents were also located and interviewed during the lengthy field investigation and a discarded firearm was located near the scene by Police Service Dog Xander.
The preliminary investigation revealed the alleged female suspect witnessed Perez assaulting another male at the property just prior to the shooting. When the woman attempted to intervene, Perez pursued her with a knife and the woman shot Perez in an apparent act of self-defense.
In conjunction with the District Attorney’s Office, it was decided that no charges would be filed at this time. This is an ongoing investigation and no other information is available for release.
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