Press Releases
The San Angelo Police Department has partnered with Project ChildSafe, a program of the National Shooting Sports Foundation to promote firearm safety and education.
The partnership stems from a desire to raise awareness about safe and responsible firearm ownership and the importance of proper storage to help reduce accidents and access by children.
Project ChildSafe works with law enforcement partners across the U.S. to help make communities safer by providing free gun locks and safety kits.
The locks will be available at Police Headquarters, 401 E. Beauregard, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
“If we can prevent senseless injuries or save the life of one child by preventing an unnecessary, accidental shooting then the impact of this partnership will prove to be invaluable. Safe storage is the number one way we can reduce these accidents.”
— Police Chief Frank Carter
Tips and information about safe and responsible firearm storage are available at www.projectchildsafe.org.
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San Angelo Police arrested four people on Felony drug charges after a traffic stop near the 600 block of Elm Street Monday morning.
At approximately 12:30 a.m. on July 17, 2017, San Angelo Police attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a 2014 Chrysler 200 but the vehicle failed to stop and the driver was observed throwing an item from the window.
A pursuit ensued and the driver fled through a nearby alleyway, continuing to discard items from the window until the vehicle eventually came to a stop. The vehicle’s occupants were detained by several responding Officers.
Subsequent to the field investigation, which included a search of the vehicle, occupants, and recovery of the discarded items, Officers located a sizable quantity of suspected methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia associated with the trafficking of narcotics, and a stolen handgun.
The driver, identified as 38-year-old Dora Gaona, was ultimately charged with First Degree Felony Manufacture Delivery of Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, Possession/Delivery of Drug Paraphernalia, Driving While License Invalid/No Financial Responsibility, and a warrant.
Charles Q. Mitchell, 23, was charged with First Degree Felony Manufacture Delivery of Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 and Possession/Delivery of Drug Paraphernalia. Javare L. Smith, 36, was charged with First Degree Felony Manufacture Delivery of Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 and a parole warrant. Antonio N. Flores III, 27, was charged with First Degree Felony Manufacture Delivery of Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1.
All parties were transported to the Tom Green County Jail without incident. Additional charges may be forthcoming pending the outcome of this ongoing investigation.
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Xavior R. Arzola, 19, of San Angelo, has been charged with Manslaughter in connection with the fatal shooting of Victor Omar Duarte, 18, of San Angelo.
Just after 5:30 a.m. this morning, San Angelo Police were dispatched to a residence located in the 1800 block of Edmund Boulevard for the report of a shooting victim. Police located Duarte, deceased, inside the residence and learned from a witness that several occupants fled the residence after the shooting.
Members of the Department’s Patrol Division, Street Crimes Division, and Criminal Investigations Division worked through the morning to identify and locate the occupants present during the incident. Arzola was located in the 2200 block of Raney Street.
Subsequent to the ongoing investigation and witness accounts, Detectives learned Duarte was inside the residence with Arzola and several other occupants when Arzola recklessly handled a firearm and caused it to discharge and strike Duarte.
Drug usage is believed to have played a role in this morning’s reckless shooting. This is an active investigation and no additional information will be released at this time.
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On Monday, July 17, 2017, Investigators with the Department’s Street crimes Division obtained a Search and Arrest warrant for Justin Houk, 39, of San Angelo.
The warrant, issued by Justice of the Peace Susan Werner, named Houk to be in possession of a quantity of methamphetamine. Houk’s residence, located in the 2000 block of Cat Tail Lane, and his vehicle, a 2002 Lexus, were subject to the warrant.
Police located Houk driving the Lexus in the 3400 block of Green Meadow. He was taken into custody and found to be in possession of approximately $5,500 in U.S. Currency. During a search of the Lexus, Officers located approximately one and one-half pounds of methamphetamine, a quantity of cocaine, and paraphernalia associated with the trafficking of narcotics.
A subsequent search of the residence on Cat Tail was conducted by members of the Department’s Street Crimes Division and Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division. The search yielded a small quantity of marijuana and several guns.
Following the operation, Houk was charged with First Degree Felony Manufacture Delivery of Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, Third Degree Felony Possession of Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, and Driving While License Invalid.
The Department’s Lake Division, K9Unit, and members of the Center for Tactical Medicine assisted with the operation.
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July 18, 2017, just before 1:15 p.m., a San Angelo Police Officer was working in the 700 block of W. 15th Street on an unrelated call when he was approached by someone asking for help at a nearby residence. Soon after, San Angelo Public Safety Communications received a call regarding a child drowning victim in the 700 block of W. 15th Street.
Officers proceeded to the residence and located a 3-year-old male child who was unresponsive. Officers performed CPR on the child until medics arrived and transported the child to Shannon Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.
Investigators with the Department’s Child Crimes Unit responded to the residence along with the Crime Scene Investigations Unit. Child Protective Services was also summoned to the scene. This case is being investigated as an apparent accidental drowning.
This is an ongoing investigation and no other information is available for release.
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