Red Mustang Driver Still at Large

On Friday, Feb. 7, a high speed chase with the Department of Public Safety and the driver of a red Ford Mustang ensued after DPS Trooper Ram Garza attempted to initiate a traffic stop near the San Angelo Police Department. 

The male driver of the vehicle, who has yet to positively identified, evaded arrest and led Trooper Garza and other responding units on a chase through San Angelo down Pulliam Street, before veering off and heading toward Paint Rock Road east of Loop 306, where the driver vacated his vehicle and fled on foot. 

Near Pulliam and Bell Streets, the driver discarded a loaded handgun, with a bullet in backwards into the parking lot of Electric Rider, where employees of the shop witnessed the chase and found the gun. 

DPS continued their search at Sykes Circle and Sage Brush on foot, with several officers seeking the suspect armed and with the assitance of an SAPD K9 unit. 

Several items of key evidence were found on site, including the suspect's plaid, button-down T-shirt, a gun holster, and a knife that may or may not have belonged to the suspect. After several hours of search, the suspect was deemed to have escaped and the investigation is still ongoing.

DPS Public Information Officer Shawn Baxter relays that the DPS is doing everything in their power to solve the case, and are currently following up on leads provided by tipsters in the community. 

The driver is still at large, and DPS are urging citizens with knowledge of the driver, his whereabouts or the incident to call either the DPS at 325-223-6800, or the local Crime Stoppers line at 325-658-4357. Alternatively, anonymous tips may be submitted at 1-855-TIPS-247.