SWAT Takes Down Two Suspected Robbers During a 5-Hour Armed Standoff in North San Angelo

SAN ANGELO, TX — According to the San Angelo police, its officers responded to a report of a robbery at the Smokers’ Outlet at 1902 N. Chadbourne St. There, police were told that the suspects were headed to a residence on W. 20th Street around the corner and were hiding there. This happened several minutes after 4 p.m.

In addition, video surveillance from Smokers’ Outlet revealed that the suspects were likely the same robbers at two convenience store locations earlier this morning.

Police surrounded the residence and blocked off the streets. Police sent out Nixle notices informing those citizens subscribed to avoid the area. Outside the house, police were seen with long guns drawn and neighbors nearby hid inside their homes.

After 6:30 p.m. the San Angelo Police Department SWAT team arrived with a mobile command post and a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected military personnel carrier.

Police said they tried to get neighbors out of the area. One witness told us they were asked to leave their homes. “Yes, they said they didn’t want the smoke to get into the house from the bombs they set,” one neighbor told us.

Police pushed the media and bystanders away from the residence. As an officer was pushing people back, he mentioned that tear gas was about to be used. Our reporter saw evidence of a tear gas deployment twice during the standoff. Police said that the suspects inside the home were throwing “things” outside the house that were on fire. We reported what we observed, in that it appeared the suspects were throwing the tear gas canisters back at police.

Police stated later that the use of “chemical munitions” was considered. But they now claim no tear gas was deployed.

During the standoff, police said they witnessed the suspected robbers in a fight through one of the windows at the house. Seeing the fight as an opportunity to move in, SWAT pounced into the house at around 9 p.m. According to police, the two were still fighting when SWAT moved in.

Bystanders stood in amazement at the amount of military hardware and military-style weapons being used. One bystander mentioned the suspects were only armed with knives. Police later confirmed the suspects held-up inside the residence were linked to the two convenience store robberies early Wednesday morning. Gaylon Smith posted on Facebook that her father was a clerk at a Stripes this morning and he was robbed at knifepoint. Police only said that the robbers “displayed a weapon” during those two incidents.

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Above: Police with military-style weapons deployed during standoff with robbery suspects. (LIVE! Photo/Manny Diaz)

Police said three adults were inside the home when SWAT moved inside. Two men were taken into custody. One woman was with the two men but she was released. In an earlier report, we noted that children were removed from the home. The children were actually evacuated from a home next door and not within close proximity of the suspects or the heavily armed police outside.

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Above: Police with military-style weapons deployed during standoff with robbery suspects. (LIVE! Photo/Manny Diaz)

Police said the two men arrested suffered injuries from fighting each other. After taking both men into custody, police obtained a warrant and searched the house for evidence.

The men arrested were identified as 32-year-old Jorge Arreola and 21-year-old Abelardo Arreola. Both men have been charged with two counts of Aggravated Robbery and one count of Robbery.

An 18-year-old female who was inside the residence during the standoff was not injured. A family member, 31-year-old Cindy Martinez, was arrested for Interference with Public Duties and Public Intoxication.