Press Releases

Just before 9:00 p.m. last night, San Angelo Police conducted an investigatory traffic stop on a vehicle near the 2700 block of Sunset drive.  The vehicle, a blue 2005 Chevrolet Suburban, matched the description of a vehicle leaving the area of reported shots fired in the 6600 block of Knickerbocker road.

During the contact, Officers observed a handgun in plain view behind the driver’s seat and open containers of alcohol. 

Police identified the driver and passengers as 24-year-old Araceli Espinola, 23-year-old Steven Ray Gamez, and 20-year-old Brianna Molina of San Angelo.  Espinola and Molina were found to have outstanding warrants and were placed under arrest.  Additionally, Espinola received Citations for Driving While License Invalid and Open Container.   

Gamez was arrested and charged with Unlawful Carrying Weapon after a record’s check of the gun revealed it was reported stolen out of Tom Green County.  When Officers conducted a search of Gamez incident to his arrest, they located a bag containing several Xanax pills.  Gamez was additionally charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 3 and received a citation for Discharging a Firearm Inside City Limits after police learned Gamez had reportedly fired the handgun near the northwest side of the KOA Campground on Knickerbocker Road. 

The trio was transported to the Tom Green County Jail without incident.

 ###

Around 12:16 a.m. today, San Angelo Police were dispatched to the area of Bell and Hughes Street for the report of a major motor vehicle crash with entrapment. 

Officers arrived and located a collision between a Kenworth Tractor Trailer and a 2014 Ford Fiesta.  The Fiesta’s 29-year-old female passenger had to be extricated from the vehicle by San Angelo Fire Department personnel.  The passenger was transported to Shannon Medical Center by ambulance with incapacitating injuries and later underwent surgery.  She is reported to be in stable condition in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit.  The Fiesta’s driver, a 30-year old San Angelo man, received non-incapacitating injuries and refused medical assistance.   The driver of the tractor trailer, a 39-year-old male from Graham, Texas, was not injured.

San Angelo Police Department Traffic Investigator Steven Quade responded to the scene.  Subsequent to his investigation, it was determined that the tractor trailer was traveling eastbound on Hughes Street when the driver failed to yield the right of way at the stop sign and collided with the Fiesta that was traveling southbound on Bell Street.  The trailer was loaded with sand and the force of the collision caused the Fiesta to become partially lodged underneath the trailer. 

The driver of the tractor trailer will be issued a citation for Fail to Yield the Right of Way at a Stop Sign.  The truck is registered to 3 Point Trucking, LLC. out of Graham, Texas. 

###

There were several reports of a threatening post in social media involving clowns and Lake View High School yesterday.  The San Angelo Police Department is working cooperatively with the school district on this issue.  At this time, no clowns have been sighted and no threats were made by clowns.  This was not a credible threat.  The SAPD and the District will continue to work together to maintain a safe learning environment for students.

Nationally, several people have been arrested in recent weeks for making false clown threats and they face serious consequences.  Whether made against an individual or an entire school, these types of threats are against the law.  Any person may be charged with “Terroristic Threat” if they are found to have threatened to commit any offense involving violence to any person or property with intent to:

• cause a reaction of any type to his threat by an official or volunteer agency organized to deal with emergencies;
• place any person in fear of imminent serious bodily injury;
• prevent or interrupt the occupation or use of a building, room, place of assembly, place to which the public has access, place of employment or occupation, aircraft, automobile, or other form of conveyance, or other public place;
• cause impairment or interruption of public communications, public transportation, public water, gas, or power supply or other public service;
• place the public or a substantial group of the public in fear of serious bodily injury; or
• influence the conduct or activities of a branch or agency of the federal government, the state, or a political subdivision of the state.

Offenses under these subsections of Terroristic Threat range from Class B Misdemeanor to Third Degree Felony.

Any person who uses the name or persona of another person without their consent and with intent to harm, defraud, intimidate, or threaten any person, creates a web page on a commercial social networking site, or Internet website, or, sends any messages by any electronic means with the same intent is considered Online Impersonation.  Offenses range from Class A Misdemeanor to Third Degree Felony — charges that can potentially ruin chances for entry into institutes of higher education or prevent licensure and/or disqualify persons from certain occupations.  

It should also be known that persons who make a false [clown] report to a peace officer or law employment employee with intent to deceive, is a Class B Misdemeanor. 

We ask that parents and guardians discuss this topic with their children so they understand the legal consequences of these crimes.

The San Angelo Police Department will carefully review any perceived threat and investigate incidents on a case by case basis to ensure the safety of the community.

###

Yesterday morning, San Angelo Police Chief Frank Carter and K-9 Sergeant Chris Cimino accepted $414.00 — a healthy portion of money which will benefit the Department’s K-9 Unit.  The funds were raised during Royal Estates of San Angelo’s summer long campaign, “We Support U”, geared to show support for local first responders.

In September, the Royal Estates community concluded the campaign with a cook book and bake sale event sponsored in part by Chick-fil-A, Intrepid Home Health, Kindred Hospice, Community Hospital, and Sam’s Club.  The community event provided food, drinks, and interaction with Police and Fire Department personnel and their vehicles. 

Profits from the campaign’s events totaled $828, which Royal Estates divided amongst the San Angelo Fire and Police Departments.

“On behalf of Vader and the K-9 Unit, and the San Angelo Police Department, we’re honored for your generosity and donation”, said Chief Carter, “it’s such a privilege and honor to serve in such a community as San Angelo because of the support we have from the residents.”  (https://youtu.be/o9fbPbjWafw)

In addition to the cook book and bake sale, Royal Estates hosted a pancake breakfast with all the trimmings, a special meal for their retired law enforcement residents, and a painting session called ‘Brushed by the Heart’ with Mary Kaye Cockrell.

Before the check presentation, K9 Vader visited with Royal Estates residents and staff members — some brave enough to play tug-of-war with Vader’s coveted Kong toy. 

The Department will utilize the money to assist with the K-9 Unit’s operating costs, which has four certified teams.  For more information about the Department’s K-9 Unit visit http://bit.ly/SAPDK9Unit.

The San Angelo Police Department has identified the victims involved in Friday’s drowning near Lake Nasworthy as 61-year-old Ronald Strain and his four-year-old grandson, Braxton Jewel.

At approximately 6:16 p.m. on October 21, 2016, San Angelo Public Safety Communications received a call about a possible dead body in the water near the lake’s Spillway, 1800 Beaty Road.  The location is on the low side of Lake Nasworthy.

Lake Officer T. Berrie responded to the location and met with the caller, who said he came to the area to fish when he noticed what appeared to be a body in the water.   

Upon further inspection, Officer Berrie located a second body at the shoreline close to an area of moss-covered rocks that are partially submerged in shallow, flowing water.  Evidence at the scene indicates the victims likely slipped and fell into the water while attempting to cross the moss-covered rocks.

Officer Berrie initiated a recovery operation, requesting assistance from the Department’s Criminal Investigations Division, Crime Scene Investigations, and San Angelo Fire Department personnel.  Justice of the Peace Judge Fred Buck responded and formally pronounced both victims deceased with the approximate time of death as 1:00 p.m.  The victims were later transported to Lubbock for autopsy.

Just before 7:00 p.m., Strain’s daughter called Police dispatch to report she was concerned about her father, who failed to pick her up from work.  Her concern grew after she noticed fishing equipment missing from the home and said neither her father nor her nephew [Jewel] knew how to swim.

 ###