Press Releases
The San Angelo Police Department would like to warn you about a current ?Green Dot Card? Scam circulating in our area.
In this particular Green Dot Scam, the scammer told the potential victim they won a car during a recent contest. Although the potential victim's caller ID displayed a local area code, law enforcement officials believe the scammer called from overseas. Caller ID Spoofing is a common practice amongst scammers. The technology allows them to falsify the telephone number and/or name relayed as the Caller ID information to disguise their identity.
In this scenario, the scammer instructed the potential victim to purchase a prepaid Green Dot MoneyPak Card and send the activation numbers to the scammer, who was posing as a contest official.
This potential victim recognized this to be a Scam, but other residents have not been so lucky. Scammers are known to target the elderly and sometimes the ?deal-contest- prize-opportunity? sounds too good to pass up. Nevertheless, if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Please share this alert and help us spread the word.
What is a Green Dot MoneyPak Card?
A MoneyPak/Green Dot Card works like most pre-paid cards. Consumers can pre and re-load them, transfer them, or use them to make purchases.
These types of Scams can be from a phone call, an e-mail, or regular mail so beware and be scam-smart.
Common Green Dot Money Pak Scams
Lotteries or sweepstakes- Scammer will tell you that you won a large amount of money, or a big item such as a car but in order for you to get your car or money, you need to pay taxes or fees first.
Bill Collector- Scammer will tell you that you owe a large amount of money to a company and if you don?t pay, they will call the police or other authorities.
Arrest Warrants- Scammer will tell you that you owe money for a court fine or traffic citation and if you don?t pay, they will issue a warrant for your arrest.
Don?t fall victim to Green Dot Scams because once you give away the activation code, your money will most likely never be recovered.
If you believe you may be a victim of Green Dot MoneyPak fraud, contact your local police and submit a MoneyPak dispute at http://bit.ly/MoneyPakDispute
***SAPD***
On Tuesday, January 6, 2015, just after 9:00 p.m., San Angelo Police were dispatched to the 1800 block of W Avenue N for a shooting.
Police spoke with the victim who stated a white male driving a blue 2002 Mercury passenger car was driving erratically on Avenue N. The victim honked at the driver in the Mercury when he cut her off and narrowly missed colliding with her vehicle. After the victim honked her horn as a warning, the suspect drove next to the victims? vehicle and fired 1 round from a handgun hitting the driver's door of her vehicle. The vehicle was occupied by the victim's family to include her husband and children. Witnesses to the incident provided police with the suspect description and a license plate for the suspect vehicle. Nobody was injured from the gun shot.
A short time later, K-9 Officer Fincher located the suspect vehicle in the 1800 block of N Bryant Boulevard. Officer Fincher made contact with and identified the driver as, Levi Turner (01/03/91). During the contact, Officer Fincher also observed a bag of suspected marijuana in the driver's side floor. A search of the vehicle yielded approximately 12 ounces of marijuana and a .22 caliber handgun located under the driver's seat. Turner was also found to be in possession of approximately 7 grams of cocaine. Detective Dye was called to the scene and conducted the investigation. Turner was subsequently charged with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Marijuana. Turner was transported to the Tom Green County Jail without incident.
This incident is still under investigation and no further information is available at this time.
Turner, Levi
(01/03/91)
A Death Investigation continues after police locate a deceased 20-year-old San Angelo resident in the 3700 block of North Bryant Boulevard.
Today, December 23, 2014, at approximately 8:30 a.m., San Angelo Police responded to the 3700 block of North Bryant Blvd for an unconscious person. Upon arrival Police and Fire Department personnel observed the victim had sustained serious injuries and was deceased.
The victim, Gunner McNeill (10/31/1994), was identified from a driver's license found at the scene.
The cause of death was not immediately known requiring both the Traffic Section and Criminal Investigative Divisions to be notified. Preliminary findings indicated a Hit and Run, but Traffic Officers and Detectives collected evidence from the scene and began working the investigation as an unknown death until the actual cause is determined.
Justice of the Peace J.P. McGuire responded to the scene and formally pronounced the victim deceased. McNeill was sent to Lubbock for autopsy.
At approximately 12:00 p.m. today, Detectives from the Special Operations Section located a possible suspect vehicle in the 10,000 block of Raccoon Road in Grape Creek. The vehicle was towed and secured as potential evidence for the investigation. The identity of the driver is not being release pending further investigation.
This is an ongoing investigation and further updates will be released as information becomes available.
Four cadets are graduating today from the San Angelo Police Department Academy.
Today, Friday, December 19, 2014, at 3:00 p.m., the San Angelo Police Department's Basic Police Officer Class 2014-A will participate in a Graduation and Swearing in Ceremony at the San Angelo Municipal Court 110 S. Emerick Street.
The Four (4) graduates who will be sworn are; Stephen Guevara, Nathanial Long, Jose Villalobos, and Joshua Younts.
The cadets successfully completed an extensive eight hundred twenty-four (824) hour academy learning basic law enforcement skills and a multi week in-service course. Following graduation, the cadets will become Apprentice Police Officers (APO's) and will be assigned to a fifteen (15) week Police Training Program.
The Police Training Program is designed to teach the APO's how best to use the skills acquired in the academy and in-service training. The ceremony is open to the public.
In keeping with the Christmas Spirit, SAPD and a local bank partner to spread some holiday cheer.
A local bank, that wishes to remain anonymous, donated $5,000.00 to the San Angelo Police Department to give to the citizens of San Angelo. The bank officials wanted to do something nice for the community and believed a friendly encounter from an officer would be the best way to receive the gift. Officers will be handing out $100.00 to unsuspecting citizens and wishing them a Merry Christmas on behalf of the SAPD. Ten Patrol Officers working varying times and shifts will be selected for the program. There is no criteria for being selected and the encounter may be via traffic stop or routine encounter with the public. **
Chief Vasquez said the program would begin this afternoon and would continue until all the money had been given away.
* The SAPD does not encourage minor traffic violations and the stops made in this program may be made for those exhibiting excellent driving habits.
** All City of San Angelo employees are exempt from receiving the money.