Today at 12:41 pm, San Angelo Police responded to a civil disturbance call at the Econo Lodge, 415 W Beauregard. An employee believed a male subject who had just checked in had stayed in the motel a few weeks ago and stolen a TV. The employee reported hearing a gunshot from room 110 where the male subject was staying. Another employee saw the male subject leave with a handgun in a green car prior to Police arriving at the motel.
Officers were not able to locate the male subject. Officers checked room 110 and found a bullet hole in the bed. There was no one else inside the room and no sign that anyone had been injured.
At 2:30 pm, an employee of Econo Lodge called in again stating the male subject was back on the property in the green car. Officer B Bylsma arrived at the motel and made contact with the male subject as he was backing out of a parking space near room 110 in a green 2015 Chevrolet Sonic. The male subject was identified as 29 year old Jason Rowden. While speaking with Rowden, Officer Bylsma smelled the odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle.
A search of the vehicle was conducted and high grade marijuana and Xanax pills were located inside the vehicle. A semi-automatic .45 caliber handgun was also located in the vehicle. The caliber of the handgun was the same caliber as the bullet that was fired inside room 110. Rowden was placed under arrest and searched. During the search, Rowden was found to be in possession of less than one gram of heroin.
Rowden was transported to the Tom Green County Jail and charged with Class A Misdemeanor Possession of Marijuana, Class A Misdemeanor Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 3, State Jail Felony Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, and Class A Misdemeanor Unlawful Carry of a Firearm.