Wild San Angelo Crash Connected to Hamilton County Homicide

SAN ANGELO— The man who flipped a grey truck into the median on North Bryant Boulevard was being investigated for a possible murder.

Adam Powers, 43, has been arrested after running from police in a vehicle that was stolen from a possible homicide.

According to court documents, on June 15, 2023, investigators contacted the San Angelo Police Department and asked if they could assist the Hamilton Police Department in located Powers as part of a homicide investigation that was being conducted in Hamilton County. Hamilton is located about one hour east of Brownwood, Texas. This resulted in a short vehicle pursuit that ended when Powers crashed the stolen truck into the median near the intersection of West 14th Street and North Bryant Boulevard.

A phone call was received from the Hamilton Police Department that a cellphone signal had pinged in the area of Picnic Bend Park in San Angelo. A vehicle description that matched the grey pickup truck was given and the area was searched. When officers arrived at this location, they had no success in finding the vehicle.

As that search was being conducted, another San Angelo police officer observed the suspect vehicle and advised that when the male operating the vehicle was contacted, he began to slowly drive away. Thinking this was suspicious, this officer exited his patrol unit and approached the vehicle, stated to the driver that he needed to speak with him.

Following this command, the driver nervously looked around and then accelerated to a high speed towards the intersection of West 14th Street and North River Drive.

Another officer said that as he approached the intersection he observed the suspect disregard a stop sign, which caused the officer to attempt to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle. However, this was disregarded by the driver who then fled towards the intersection of West 14th Street and North Bryant Boulevard.

Upon reaching this intersection, officers saw the suspect had turned northbound in the southbound lanes. Then, the suspect struck a curb and attempted to correct his positioning in the lane. He soon left the roadway and flipped the vehicle on its side into the median. The suspect, which was identified as Powers, was taken into custody without further incident.

Powers allegedly told officers that he had been in possession of the vehicle after it was located to him by his employer. Then, Powers was transported to the Criminal Investigation Division for a formal interview with the assistance of the Texas Rangers.

Powers waived his Miranda Warning and agreed to speak with investigators. He allegedly said to the investigator that he had permission from his employer to take the vehicle and said that after he saw several police lights from the patrol units, he “freaked out and panicked” and then fled from officers until he crashed.

Texas Rangers told investigators that the relatives of the owner of the pickup truck did not give anyone permission to use and operate the vehicle. Then, the Texas Ranger advised that the owner of the vehicle was dead and found murdered on June 15, 2023, and his vehicle was taken by an unknown person from the residence where the murder had occurred.

Powers was arrested and booked into the Tom Green County Detention Facility and charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle and evading arrest with a vehicle. He is currently an inmate and has a $100,000 bond.