A San Angelo Man Who Crashes into a Police Car Ends up in Handcuffs

At approximately 2 a.m. this morning, San Angelo Police attempted to stop the driver of a tan 2002 Toyota Tundra in the 300 block of East 6^th St. for running a stop sign, but the driver disregarded the police car’s overhead lights and sirens and additional control devices. A short pursuit then ensued throughout the neighborhood, said Tracy Gonzalez, public information officer for SAPD.

Gonzalez said the pursuit ended in the 700 block of Holcomb St. after the driver, Luis E. Galarza Jr., 21, lost control of the vehicle, spun 180 degrees and came to a stop facing the pursuing officers. These officers instructed the driver to exit the vehicle, but Galarza Jr. disregarded their commands, drove towards the police vehicle and struck it two times. Afterward, Galarza Jr. exited the vehicle when it became disabled and police took him into custody without further incident.

The SAPD officers transported Galarza Jr. to the Tom Green County Jail and charged him with Evading in a Vehicle. They also issued citations for his traffic violations. No one was injured in the collision, but the patrol car did sustain minor damages.