The new year is in full gear, and the Tom Green County Jail witnessed 68 arrests over the first weekend of 2016. Out of those 68 arrests, 46 of those people were arrested for new complaints. The crimes that topped the list this time were evading arrest, drugs and alcohol.
Of course, there were some more serious and not-so-smart crimes that landed a few people behind bars.
In fact, on Jan. 2, 2016, San Angelo LIVE! reported on a manhunt involving a 30-year-old man with a weapon. Today, the San Angelo Police Department released more information regarding that arrest.
Sgt. Cade Solsbery, public information officer for SAPD, said the suspect, identified as Orlando Gatica, was arrested not only for aggravated assault, but also for aggravated kidnapping after an incident in the 1000 block of Tarver St.
On Jan. 2, at 9:25 p.m., SAPD officers were dispatched to a call for a subject with a weapon. Apparently, Gatica had left the scene in a blue 2014 Chevrolet pickup prior to officers arriving. Police met with one of the victims, Julio Arzeno, who stated he was visiting his son when Gatica pulled in front of the house and threatened to shoot him. Gatica was holding a handgun at the time he made the threat.
As police investigated the scene of the incident, Gatica was located driving at a high rate of speed in the area. Solsbery said officers were able to catch up to the suspect in the 200 block of S. Browning where he fled on foot. Officers lost sight of Gatica, but he was eventually located in a shed behind a residence in the area.
“He was taken into custody without incident,” Solsbery stated. “While looking for [the suspect], officers located the handgun Gatica had in his possession. The handgun was discovered to be a very realistic BB gun.”
Solsbery added that a female victim, Makishia Mejia, was located in the vehicle Gatica had been driving. Mejia told officers she had been at her residence on Tarver St. when the man pulled up and threatened Arzeno. Gatica then told her to get in the car with him or he would shoot the house.
“Mejia was concerned for the safety of children in the house and got in the vehicle,” Solsbery stated.
The public information officers stated Detective Michael Gaeta was called to the scene to continue the investigation. Upon its conclusion, Gatica was transported to the Tom Green County Jail and charged with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Aggravated Kidnapping.
In another incident this weekend, a San Angelo man, Daniel J. Sweat, 25, called 911 approximately five times. He originally called to complain about his neighbors calling in on him to dispatch, but there were no reports of such calls, Solsbery said.
“I don’t know what he was thinking,” Solsbery stated. “He had been warned repeatedly by officers as they kept going over there in the night, that if he kept doing it, he could be charged. Finally, they just arrested him for it.”
Solsbery added that Sweat did speak to dispatch the first few times, but by the fourth time, he called and stayed silent. Calling 911 repeatedly in such a manner is a Class B Misdemeanor.
“A person commits an offense if they make a call to 911 or request 911 service when there’s not an emergency, and either they remain silent on the line or make abusive or harassing statements,” stated Solsbery.
In this case, Sweat remaining silent and calling in repeatedly after getting warned prompted his trip to the TGCJ.
As for the other crimes committed this weekend, here are the final numbers.
- Possession of Marijuana: 7
- Resisting or Evading Arrest: 6
- Public Intoxication: 4
- DUI/DWI: 6
- Purchase/Furnish Alcohol to a Minor: 1
- Possession of Controlled Substance & Drug Paraphernalia: 14
- Criminal Mischief: 1
- Assault Causes Bodily Injury: 1
- Aggravated Assault w/Deadly Weapon: 2
- Fail to Identify Fugitive: 3
- Driving While License Invoked/Invalid/No license: 6
- Violation of Bond/Protection Order: 1
- Criminal Trespass: 3
- Expired Registration: 1
- Theft of Property: 2
- No Proof Financial Responsibility: 2
- Expired MVR: 1
- Illegal Burn: 1
- No Insurance: 1
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