Press Releases

The San Angelo Police Department has received several calls regarding the ongoing IRS-Impersonation Telephone Scam.    

The IRS-Impersonation Telephone Scam is an aggressive and sophisticated phone Scam targeting taxpayers, including recent immigrants.  Callers claim to be employees of the IRS, but are not.  These con artists can sound convincing when they call.  They use fake names and bogus IRS identification badge numbers.  They may know a lot about their targets, and they usually alter the caller ID to make it look like the IRS is calling.

Victims are told they owe money to the IRS and it must be paid promptly through a pre-loaded debit card or wire transfer.  If the victim refuses to cooperate, they are then threatened with arrest, deportation or suspension of a business or driver's license.   In many cases, the caller becomes hostile and insulting.

Victims may also be told they have a refund due to try to trick them into sharing private information.

If the phone isn't answered, the scammers often leave an ?urgent? callback request.

The Internal Revenue Service will never:

1) Call to demand immediate payment, nor will the agency call about taxes owed without first having mailed you a bill.

2) Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.

3) Require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card.

4) Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.

5) Threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.

Be wary if you receive a call from someone who claims to be from the IRS and demands immediate payment.  If you don?t owe taxes or have no reason to think that you do:  Contact the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.  Use TIGTA's ?IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting? web page at http://apps.irs.gov/app/scripts/exit.jsp?dest=http://www.treasury.gov/tigta/contact_report_scam.shtml

to report the incident.  You should also report it to the Federal Trade Commission.  Use the ?FTC Complaint Assistant? on FTC.gov. Please add "IRS Telephone Scam" to the comments of your report.

Another common IRS Scam is the Email Phishing Scam: "Update your IRS e-file" ? The emails appear to be from the IRS and include a link to a bogus web site intended to mirror the official IRS web site.  These emails contain the direction ?you are to update your IRS e-file immediately.?  The emails mention USA.gov and IRSgov (without a dot between "IRS" and "gov"), though notably, not IRS.gov (with a dot).  These emails are not from the IRS.

Taxpayers who get these messages should not respond to the email or click on the links. Instead, they should forward the Scam emails to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov. For more information, visit the IRS's Report Phishing web page at http://www.irs.gov/uac/Report-Phishing.  The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email to request personal or financial information.

?Our best defense against Scams is to educate the public.  Please share this important information with family and friends via Social Media or by good old-fashioned conversation.?  ? SAPD Crime Prevention Section

***SAPD***

At 11:00 a.m. today, San Angelo Police Officers will be honoring the funeral of slain Harris County Deputy Sheriff Darren Goforth and Abilene Police Officer Don Allen by activating in-service Patrol Vehicle's emergency lights and with a moment of silent prayer. 

In the wake of Deputy Goforth's brutal assassination on August 28, Texas Governor Greg Abbott spearheaded the call to action stating, ?It is time to unite in solidarity to support the men and women who serve and protect our communities.  I ask that communities across Texas support this cause for unity and remember the essential role that law enforcement plays in keeping Texas safe and strong.? 

Additionally, Abbott called for all Law Enforcement Officers to turn on their red and blue flashing lights at 11:00 a.m. and encouraged civilian drivers to turn on their emergency hazard lights in a show of support. 

Deputy Sheriff Goforth was shot and killed from ambush while pumping gas into his patrol car at a commercial gas station at the intersection of West and Telge Roads, in Cypress.  As Deputy Goforth stood next to his patrol car filling it with fuel, Shannon Miles walked up behind him and fired multiple shots.  After Deputy Goforth fell to the ground, Miles shot him several more times before fleeing the scene.  Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson said Miles unloaded 15 rounds into Deputy Goforth.

Miles was apprehended the next day following a massive manhunt involving multiple law enforcement agencies from around the Harris County and Houston area.  He was charged with capital murder.

This event coincides with the funeral for Abilene Police Officer Don Allen, who was murdered inside his home Monday evening.  Earlier this morning, Members of the San Angelo Police Department's Command Staff and Honor Guard traveled to Abilene to support their colleagues at APD and honor Officer Allen.    

***SAPD***

On Monday August 31, 2015 at 4:07 am, San Angelo Police responded to an assault call in the 500 block of N Sellers St.  Upon arrival, Officers discovered that a 69 year old Hispanic male had been shot.  The responding Officers administered first aid until Fire Department personnel arrived on scene.  The victim was transported to Shannon Medical Center with incapacitating injuries.  The victim has been admitted into the hospital but his current condition is not known.

The investigation led to Fernando Lavaris Jr, DOB 6-19-1986, being identified as a suspect in the offense.  Lavaris was located by members of the Special Operations Section and Patrol.  A traffic stop was conducted at approximately 3:45 pm in the 400 block of S Oakes and he was taken into custody without incident.

Lavaris was transported to the Tom Green County Jail where he was charged with Burglary of a Habitation with Intent to Commit a Felony.  Lavaris also had an outstanding Parole Violation Warrant.  Other charges against Lavaris are pending further investigation.

Detective James Hernandez and Detective Jason Chegwidden are investigating this case.  There is no other information available for release at this time.

The San Angelo Police Department is investigating the death of a 52-year-old San Angelo Man who fell into the North Concho River near Celebration Bridge this morning.

Police were called around 2:30 a.m. to the 300 block of S. Oakes Street to assist the Fire Department with a possible drowning victim.  Upon arrival, Officers and Fire Department Personnel were directed to a location in the water where witnesses said the victim was last seen. 

Several first responders entered and searched the water for approximately 15 minutes before locating the victim at the bottom of the riverbed.  He was identified as Barney Eugene Keele (DOB 03-28-63).

Paramedics administered CPR during his transport to Shannon Medical Center where an attending Physician later pronounced Keele dead.  Medical personnel advised police Keele may have suffered a medical complication prior to falling into the water but the official cause of death has not been determined.

Witnesses at the scene told investigators Keele was having difficulty walking and keeping his balance prior to falling into the water.   

This is an ongoing investigation and no further information is available at this time.

***SAPD***

The San Angelo man who died at the City Landfill has been identified as 67 year old Charles Price Braden.  Justice of the Peace J.P. McGuire has ruled the cause of Braden's death as medical in nature.

At 4:06 pm, San Angelo Police and San Angelo Fire Department were sent to the City Landfill for a motor vehicle crash that occurred inside the landfill.  The vehicles inv3olved were a gray 2000 Chevrolet pickup and a 2000 Peterbilt truck.  Braden was found deceased inside the truck when Police and Fire personnel arrived on scene.  The pickup had to be cut by Fire Department personnel in order to remove Braden from the vehicle.  An 11 year male had also been in the pickup and was transported to Shannon Medical Center for non-incapacitating injuries.

Officer Brian Bylsma arrived at the scene to investigate the crash.  Justice of the Peace J.P. Mcguire also responded to the scene to conduct his death investigation.  At the conclusion of the investigation, the cause of death was determined to be medical in nature.  Based on witness statements and evidence at the scene, it appeared that Braden had a medical emergency while driving away from the trash dumping area in the landfill.  When this occurred, Braden's vehicle swerved and crashed into a Republic Service truck that was on its way to the dumping area.

No autopsy has been ordered due the cause of death not being criminal in nature.