New Information Revealed About A. Bastardo from 'Smoking Vehicle'

SAN ANGELO, TX- Yesterday afternoon, at approximately 7:21 p.m., the San Angelo Police Department (SAPD) dispatched to the area of Harris and Pecos for the report of a possible vehicle fire.

SAPD Public Information Officer Tracy Gonzalez stated, “A witness following the vehicle told dispatch the vehicle was traveling without a tire, that the wheel was sparking, and smoke was coming from the hood.”

In an alley at the unit block of North Emerick, an officer found a silver 2008 Dodge and made contact with the driver, who appeared to be disoriented.

Gonzalez also said, “During the field investigation, the officer located drug paraphernalia and suspected drug narcotics, which field-tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine.”

The driver of the smoking vehicle was identified as 50-year-old Armando Bastardo, Jr.

Bastardo Jr. was “arrested for a Felony 3 Possession of Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, Possession/Delivery Drug Paraphernalia, and Driving While License Invalid with Previous Conviction,” Gonzalez stated.

Gonzalez concluded that Bastardo Jr. was transported to the Tom Green County Jail (TGCJ) without incident.

“Upon a secondary search of Bastardo, Jr. at the jail, officers located a small quantity of methamphetamine and Bastardo, Jr. was subsequently charged.”

Update 

According to jail records, Bastardo has been booked into the TGCJ 22 times since 1987. A few of the charges include Attempted Capital Murder, Driving While Intoxicated and Murder Intentionally Cause Death. 

Bastardo was booked into the TGCJ on May 7, 1996 for the charge of Driving While Intoxicated and 2nd Murder Intentionally Cause Death. On Dec. 10, 1996, Bastardo was sentenced to 20 years in the Texas Department of Corrections. 

Since his release, Bastardo was booked into the TGCJ again on Sept. 21, 2015 for Parole Violation and CPFx2 (Capias Pro Fine Warrant). This means he made a payment agreement with the court, but defaulted on that agreement.

Overall, Bastardo's charges include:

• Driving While Intoxicated: 4
• No Safety Belt: 1 
• Resist Arrest Search or Transport Deadly Weapon: 2
• Proh Weapons Switchblade/Knuckles: 1
• Murder Intentionally Cause Death: 1
• CPF: 25
• Driving While License Suspended: 5
• No Insurance: 1
• Public Intoxication: 1
• No Insurance Capias Profine: 1
• Failure to Appear: 1
• Resisting Arrest with a Deadly Weapon: 2
• Seat Belt Driver of Vehicle: 1 
• Possession of Marijuana Cl B: 1
• DWI Refusal: 1
• Aggravated Assault with Deadly Weapon MTR: 1
• Judg. Nisi DWI: 1
• Theft CL.B Checks: 1
• Possession of Prohibited Weapon: 1
• Aggravated Asault: 1
• Attempted Capital Murder: 1
• Criminal Trespass: 1
• Parole Violation: 1
• Driving with License Invalid with Previous Conv/Susp./W/O Fin Res: 1 
• Poss CS PG 1<1G: 1
• Poss CS PG 1>=1G<4G: 1
• Poss/Del Drug Paraphernalia: 1