Meth and Pistols Discovered in Raid on Suspected Meth Distribution House

SAN ANGELO, TX — This morning at approximately 11:30 a.m. the San Angelo Police Department Street Crimes Division executed a “no knock” warrant at an old body shop structure at 3719 N. Chadbourne St.

According to Lt. Ed Kading, who heads the Street Crimes Division, police investigators suspected the location to be a methamphetamine distribution center and the single person named in the warrant, identified only by only his street call sign, was suspected of dealing the drug. “The person named in the warrant lives inside the shop,” Kading explained.

The Street Crimes officers wanted to approach and enter the building with an element of surprise, but friends of the suspected dealer inside saw the police approaching and honked horns to alert those inside that police were storming the building.

“Whenever we suspect the suspect will be armed, we like to have the element of surprise,” Kading said. Those outside the building who sounded the alarm placed an additional element of danger on the police operation, he said. Police had to break a window on the front door to gain entry.

Once inside, all suspects were subdued without incident. Inside, they found a to-be-determined amount of meth and a loaded pistol. “Everyone was detained,” Kading said.

At least three arrests were made during the raid, Kading said. One was arrested on an unrelated outstanding warrant. The primary subject of the raid was arrested for possession of a yet-to-be-revealed quantity of meth, a controlled substance in penalty group 1. And finally, a subject who was outside the building alerting his associates inside of the police officers’ approach to the building was arrested for interfering with duties of the police officers. He was also armed with a pistol, Kading said.

“My guys are professionals and we are well trained. When we suspect people we are up against are armed, we don’t want to give up our presence,” Kading said.

When we left the scene, police were still processing the location for evidence. Additional charges may be pending.