Drug Dealing Car Thief Asks for Confiscated Drugs Back After Police Chase

SAN ANGELO—A San Angelo man has been indicted by a Tom Green County grand jury for unauthorized use of a vehicle which included a police chase where officers confiscated drugs the suspect later wanted back.  

According to court documents, on August 13, 2022, an officer was conducting traffic enforcement in the 2500 block of W. Avenue N when he observed a blue Kia Spectra traveling eastbound on W. Avenue N at a high rate of speed. The suspect vehicle was traveling 43-mph in a 34-mph zone and the officer activated his emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop.

The Kia turned eastbound onto W. Avenue L, disregarded stop sign, and accelerated while continuing on W. Avenue L. The officer activated his siren and tried to catch up to the vehicle which turned north on S. Fillmore St. Then, the vehicle turned westbound onto W. Avenue J, struck a curb, and drove into a yard on the 2200 block of W. Avenue J. where it came to a stop. 

Two occupants fled on foot.

Then, officers located the vehicle and conducted an inventory search of the vehicle. Two ounces of marijuana, 45 grams of THC vape cartridges, and a tactical vest with level IV bullet resistant armor plates were inside. The owner of the vehicle was determined and was contacted.

The owner told police another individual was in possession of the vehicle and on August 16, 2022, was interviewed by a police lieutenant and a Tom Green County Justice of the Peace.

This individual said that the driver, identified as Elijah Huff, had taken the vehicle and had not returned it. Huff then allegedly admitted to the individual that he was in a police pursuit, and Huff asked the owner of the vehicle for the narcotics back that were seized by police.

On August 24, 2022, officers located Huff and arrested him for an outstanding city warrant. In an interview, Huff allegedly admitted to being the driver of the blue Kia Spectra involved in the pursuit and to being in possession of the THC in the vehicle.

Huff was booked into the Tom Green County Detention Facility and released on $5,000 bond.