Press Releases
Police are still looking for a passenger who fled during a traffic stop Saturday night.
On May 3, 2014, just after 6:00 p.m., San Angelo Police initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle near the 1300 block of Walnut St. for an expired registration sticker.
As the officer approached the vehicle, a male passenger exited the vehicle despite the officer's commands and ran away. The officer radioed backup units with the suspect's description and direction of travel and assisting officers quickly established a perimeter of the area.
When the officer made contact with the driver, he observed an empty handgun holster on the passenger seat.
Officers, with the assistance of a K9 unit, searched the surrounding area; however, the suspect was not located. He was described as being a Hispanic male in his mid-to-late twenties.
The driver was identified as 25-year-old Lydia Tanguma of San Angelo. Tanguma was arrested for Driving Without a License, Expired Registration and No Insurance.
If you have information about the identity or whereabouts of the passenger, please call the SAPD's 24-hour tipping hotline at 1-855-TIPS-247. Text a tip by beginning your message with the letters TIP SAPD followed by the tip information and send to 888777. To submit a tip using the online web form visit http://local.nixle.com/tip/san-angelo-police-department/.
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A San Angelo Man is facing multiple charges after he kidnapped a 22-year-old woman from San Angelo and transported her to Rowena, Texas last week.
On Friday, May 2, 2014, Michael A. Mendoza (DOB 10-19-87) was booked into the Runnels County Jail on charges of Aggravated Kidnapping, Fleeing a Police Officer, Fail to Identify Fugitive Giving False Information, and an Outstanding Parole Warrant.
The San Angelo Police Department became aware of the incident Friday after Runnels County Sheriff's Officials called to request assistance with their investigation.
San Angelo Police K9 Officer J. Fincher and detectives with the Criminal Investigations Division, A. Callum and A. Shah, traveled to Rowena where they learned Runnel's County Sheriff's Deputies responded to a residence where Mendoza reportedly was keeping the victim against her will.
During the investigation, police learned Mendoza had kidnapped the victim at gunpoint from north San Angelo and transported her to Rowena in a stolen vehicle.
The vehicle, a 2012 Mitsubishi Galant, was reported stolen from the Sandpiper Apartments, 3310 N. Bryant Blvd., on Friday. After searching the vehicle, police located the handgun Mendoza used to kidnap the victim.
The vehicle was later released to the registered owner.
San Angelo Detectives will be charging Mendoza with Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
For details about the incident in Rowena or to request a booking photo for Mendoza, please contact the Runnels County Sheriff Department at 325-365-2121.
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On May 1, 2014 at approximately 11:30 am, San Angelo Police Officers were dispatched to the 2000 block of Vaughn Street for a vehicle that had been reported stolen. San Angelo Police Patrol Officer Delaughter arrived and observed a male subject running from the reported stolen vehicle toward Fairmount Cemetery.
The male subject entered the Fairmont Cemetery and entered a parked Bobcat Utility vehicle used by the cemetery maintenance staff. The subject, now operating the Bobcat, drove through the fence of the cemetery, and began to evade officers while driving the Bobcat through the Santa Rita area. The suspect continued to evade while in the Bobcat until colliding with a tree at the intersection of Yucca and Jefferson
The subject was taken into custody and transported to Shannon Hospital ER for minor injuries he received in the collision. The subject, Christopher Hires (10/22/86), was arrested for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and Evading Arrest and/or Detention on foot, Evading Arrest and/or Detention in a Motor Vehicle and Criminal Mischief. San Angelo Police Patrol Division, Traffic Division and Criminal Investigation Division are still investigating the incident at this time.
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Yesterday evening, representatives from the Bella Vista Apartment Community, along with officers from the San Angelo Police Department, hosted a barbeque social at the property located at 2010 Greenwood?the intent of the event was to create meaningful interaction between residents and police and to foster positive relationships.
Over food, the two groups shared their common concerns about the local area and discussed various programs offered by the department. It was also an opportunity to have relaxed conversation and to meet the Sector 1 patrol officers, supervisors, and detectives assigned to protect and serve them. BBQ chicken, hamburgers, deserts, and drinks were among the items prepared by management, residents and police.
?The Department's Mission Statement says, ?We, the men and women of the San Angelo Police Department, in partnership with the public, are committed to improving the quality of life in our community by policing in a professional and courteous manner??but how can we have partnership if we don?t know each other??, said Rick Tinsley, the department's Sector 1 Liaison Officer. ?Events like this one, Coffee with a Cop, and other social events we involve ourselves in provide opportunity for the public to get to know the men and women who serve them, in a positive environment.?
About forty people attended the event. Bella Vista is located in Sector 1, Beat 12.
This was the first such event in Sector 1 and we expect more to follow.
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Details relating to the Watercraft Search for Daniel Perez:
At the conclusion of the search for missing juvenile Daniel Perez, police are confident the search was directed at the right location on the river.
Our Lake Patrol officers utilized sonar and dredging equipment throughout the search area, along with the assistance of a second boat from a support agency over a two-day period.
We believe Daniel was not immediately located by the sonar and dredging equipment due to interference from a large pipeline that runs along the river.
The pipeline, which runs along the north bank of the river, is reinforced every few feet with concrete. On several occasions, the hooks from the dredging equipment became caught up on the pipeline and had to be replaced.
Due to the location of the pipeline, it rendered the sonar and dredging equipment ineffective despite out best efforts.
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Previous Release #050114(01)
The San Angelo Police Department's Criminal Investigations Division is confirming that the body retrieved this morning from the Concho River is 15-year-old Daniel Perez.
At approximately 6:57 a.m., a person jogging on the pathway on the north side of the Concho River called 911 to report they observed what they believed to be a body floating in the river.
The first officer on scene arrived at approximately 6:59 a.m. and located a deceased subject in the water, about three to four feet off the north bank of the river, just east of the Irving Street Low Water Crossing.
Police quarantined the surrounding area and closed traffic to the Chadbourne and Irving Street Bridges for several hours while investigators processed the area. After removing the body from the river, detectives confirmed the deceased to be Perez.
Perez was transported to Lubbock, Texas for autopsy. At this time, police do not suspect foul play.
Perez was the was the subject of a Missing Endangered Juvenile Alert that was issued on April 29, 2014, after police received information that Perez was last seen alive and in the water near the Irving Street Bridge on April 28. Perez was considered endangered because it was reported that he was under the influence of an intoxicant at the time he went into the water.
This is an ongoing investigation and more information will be released when it becomes available.
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