City Employee Arrested and Fired for Stealing AC Unit

SAN ANGELO, TX - At around 2:15 p.m. on Feb. 20, 2017, San Angelo Police dispatched to a residence in the 400 block of N. Poe for the report of a theft of an air conditioning unit.

Public Information Officer Tracy Gonzalez stated that during the initial field investigation, officers spoke with a witness who said that on the morning of Feb. 17, 2017, he or she observed a white pickup truck marked with a City of San Angelo Street and Bridge logo pull into the alley. The witness then observed a Hispanic male exit the truck, load the AC Unit onto a trailer, and drive away. 

"Through follow up investigation from Patrol Officers J. Polnick, E. McAndrews, and Criminal Investigations Division Detective N. Anderson, probable cause was developed to name 40-year-old COSA employee Benito Huichapa Mosqueda as a suspect," said Gonzalez.    

She added that this morning, members of the Patrol and Criminal Investigations Division located Mosqueda at the COSA Street and Bridge building, 1943 St. Ann Street. 

"Mosqueda was taken into custody without incident and transported to Police Headquarters for interview," said Gonzalez.

Following the interview, Mosqueda was transported to the Tom Green County Jail where he was booked for State Jail Felony Theft of Material Aluminum/Bronze/Copper/Brass.

This is an ongoing investigation and no other information is available for release at this time, said Gonzalez.

Public Information Officer Anthony Wilson confirmed that Mosqueda was terminated for his actions.