Police Arrest Man Accused of Attempting to Snatch Child in Front of Child's Mother at Gas Pump

SAN ANGELO, TX — Just after 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 2, San Angelo police said they were dispatched to the Allsup’s Convenience store on North Main St. at the Houston Harte Expressway for a report of a civil disturbance between a man and woman. The two were verbally arguing in the parking lot, police said.  While en route to the call, additional call notes stated the male, who had entered the woman’s vehicle, was no longer at the scene. 

Upon arrival, Officers spoke with a 32-year-old San Angelo woman who stated that while she was at the gas pump, she noticed someone inside the backseat of her vehicle where her two sons, ages 8 and 3, were seated.  Once she confronted the man, the man exited the vehicle and apologized before he left the area.  

The man, later identified as 48-year-old Anthony Aguero of Merkel, Texas, was located at a nearby business and questioned about the incident.  Aguero initially told police he was at the location to wait for a ride and mistakenly entered the woman’s vehicle.  Aguero was released from the scene pending further investigation. 

During the follow-up investigation, Detectives with the Department’s Criminal Investigations Division’s Crimes Against Children Unit learned additional information about Aguero’s encounter with the 8-year-old child inside the vehicle and subsequently obtained a warrant for arrest for Aguero for the charge of Unlawful Restraint of a Child (Under 17 Years of Age), a State Jail Felony punishable by a fine up to $10,000 and confinement up to two years. 

In short, police found a witness who corroborated the mother's side of the story and found enough probable cause evidence to arrest the man.

Aguero was located and arrested in Kimble County early this morning.