Police Identify Suspect Apprehended on Santa Rita Home's Rooftop

Jody Lee Blackwood, 26, of San Angelo was arrested last night on multiple charges after he fled from police during a pedestrian stop near a Santa Rita neighborhood. 

Just after 10 p.m., Officer Caroline Jackson was patrolling the Santa Rita area when she observed a suspicious subject walking with the flow of traffic near the 1500 block of S. Harrison Street.   

Officer Jackson initiated a traffic stop on the subject and during the detention, initiated a search.  During the search, Officer Jackson located suspected methamphetamine concealed inside a cigarette package.  While Officer Jackson was inspecting the substance, the subject ran away.

Officer Jackson pursued the man, later identified as Blackwood, advising responding officers of Blackwood’s direction of travel.  Police quickly established a perimeter of the surrounding area, which changed several times during the pursuit due to Blackwood jumping the fences of several neighboring yards. 

Police briefly lost sight of Blackwood but were notified of his direction of travel by a citizen who observed Blackwood running through their backyard.  Police located Blackwood a short time later, running in the 2100 block of W. Avenue J. where he was seen jumping several more fences before climbing to the rooftop of a house in the 2300 block of W. Avenue J. 

Blackwood was instructed to come down from the roof and he surrendered himself to police without further incident.  Police transported Blackwood to the Tom Green County Jail where he complained of medical duress.  Police then transported Blackwood to Shannon Medical Center for evaluation.  Once Blackwood was released from medical care, he was transported back to the Tom Green County Jail. 

During the incident, a citizen called dispatch to report a discarded semi-automatic pistol that was located in the front yard of a residence in the 1500 block of S. Harrison, the same location Officer Jackson initially encountered Blackwood.  Subsequent to the investigation, police learned the gun belonged to Blackwood.

Police tested the crystal-like substance that was located inside the cigarette package.  The substance field-tested positive for methamphetamine and weighed approximately 0.4 grams with packaging.   

Blackwood was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, Evading Arrest Detention, Unlawful Carrying Weapon, Criminal Trespass, and Pedestrian Walking with Traffic.  

The San Angelo Police Department would like to thank the citizens who aided police during the search and called to report the discarded gun.