San Angelo Police Recover Stolen Hummer H3 Quickly

Earlier Saturday, a red 2008 Hummer H3 was stolen from Mardi Gras Liquor, 2427 College Hills Blvd. According to the investigating San Angelo Police Officer Welch, the owner of the Hummer was making a quick trip, in and out, of the liquor store and left the Hummer unattended with the engine running.

While the Hummer’s owner and driver was inside the liquor store, the suspect hopped in and drove off.

Welch was the responding officer to the theft earlier Saturday where he observed the suspect on the store’s security camera’s video. All day, there has been an All Points Bulletin instructing law enforcement to be on the lookout for the stolen Hummer.

Meanwhile, at approximately midnight, a 911 call was made about a possible drunk driver at the Allsup’s Convenience Store on College Hills and Loop 306. The driver reportedly was “hunched over,” and the 911 caller assumed the male in the driver’s seat was drunk when he drove off, headed for Loop 306.

Officer Welch responded as backup, and police eventually pulled the DWI suspect over on Loop 306. They found out that instead of slouching due to intoxication, the driver was texting while parked in front of Allsup’s.  As the traffic stop was winding down, Officer Welch saw, passing by on Loop 306, a red Hummer matching what he saw earlier on the surveillance video.

Welch jumped in his Dodge Charger police cruiser, engaged the sirens and lights and chased the Hummer.

Initially, Welch said, it looked like the suspected car thief was going to make a run for it, but better senses arose, and the driver of the stolen Hummer exited Loop 306 and pulled over and into the exact same Allsup’s where the previous engagement began.

There, Welch apprehended the suspect. He will be charged with Unauthorized Use of the Motor Vehicle and the victim will get his Hummer back. The suspect was booked in the Tom Green County Jail.

Update: Monday, 11:26 a.m.

Police have released the identity of the suspected Hummer thief as 38-year-old William G. Drennan. Drennan was taken to the hospital after being arrested. He had told police that he had ingested narcotics when he realized the police were stopping him. Police characterized the apprehension as a "high risk traffic stop" and Welch confronted the suspect with his weapon drown, according to a SAPD press release.

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