Drug Dealer Caught After Crashing into Concho River Bridge Indicted

SAN ANGELO— A San Angelo man has been indicted after after fleeing from police and crashing into a bridge while carrying a load of drugs.

Juan Lira, 45, was indicted by a Tom Green County grand jury for manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance and evading arrest or detention with a vehicle.

According to court documents, on January 17, 2023, officers observed Lira driving a Nissan Altima exiting a parking lot on the 1900 block of North Chadbourne Street. Lira failed to yield the right of way when entering the roadway and nearly caused a crash. Then, Lira made a wide right turn, after which the investigator activated his patrol unit’s overhead lights to initiate a traffic stop as Lira turned westbound onto 17th Street.

The investigator activated the patrol unit’s siren then Lira turned southbound on North Irving and accelerated quickly. Dispatch was notified that Lira was actively evading as he continued southbound on North Irving, committing several traffic violations. The pursuit continued for about 2.2 miles and ended when Lira crashed into a pillar of the bridge over the Concho River on 7th St.

Lira was taken into custody by the investigator who then observed a baggie of marijuana, a digital scale, and methamphetamine. Using the scale, the investigator weighed the meth and packaging out to be 2.2 grams.

A large plastic baggie containing 59.6 grams of methamphetamine was recovered near the 12th Street and Volney Street intersection which the investigator believed Lira threw out of the vehicle during the pursuit. The bag has been requested for evidence.

Lira was arrested on January 17, 2023, and booked into the Tom Green County Detention Facility for possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, and evading arrest or detention with a vehicle or watercraft. Lira was released on January 19, 2023, on $21,000 bond.