Man found with stolen mail, fraudulent credit cards could be tied to 300+ cases, Atascosa County sheriff says
A man was arrested in Atascosa County over the weekend after he was caught with more than 40 pieces of stolen mail and more than 20 pieces of fraudulently obtained credit cards, according to the sheriff.
Pair of brothers arrested during drug bust in Atascosa County, sheriff says
Atascosa County sheriffโs deputies arrested two brothers during a drug bust that started as an investigation into cannabis THC products and other drugs making their way into a Poteet ISD campus, according to Sheriff David Soward.
Man on โmeth bingeโ slips out of handcuffs, steals patrol car, aims for police during wild chase, Atascosa County sheriff says
A 47-year-old Poteet man who admitted to being on an โextended methamphetamine bingeโ led law enforcement officers on a wild chain of events that finally ended in his arrest.
โThis is unprecedentedโ: Arsonists responsible for 42 fires in about 3 months time, Atascosa County Sheriff says
Forty-two fires occurred between April 21 and July 26 and stretch across a 25-mile radius around the county. The majority are just grass and brush fires, but a handful have been by homes and structures.
Investigation underway after teen shot, killed in northern Atascosa County, sheriff says
A homicide investigation is underway in northern Atascosa County after officials said a teen was fatally shot overnight. Two other teens were arrested in connection to his death, according to Atascosa County Sheriff David Soward.
Police departments and sheriffโs offices are hiring, but can they fill the slots?
As chiefs and sheriffs look to fill their ranks, they face stiff competition from other departments. The head of a statewide law enforcement union says Texas is undergoing a shortage of uniformed officers, which he largely attributes to the job becoming less prestigious.
Cop-in-training faces child pornography charges after being arrested at San Antonio law enforcement academy
ATASCOSA COUNTY, Texas โ An Atascosa County man training in San Antonio to become a police officer faces multiple felony child pornography charges after being taken into custody late last week, Sheriff David Soward confirmed Thursday. Armando Vidales Jr., 23, faces two counts of possession with intent to promote child pornography, both of which are 2nd-degree felonies, Soward said. Vidales was later taken into custody at a San Antonio law enforcement academy. Vidales was booked into the Atascosa County jail and his bonds were set at $160,000 total. AdA spokeswoman for the Texas Attorney Generalโs Office did not respond to a request for comment Thursday about the case.
Man critically wounded after chase ends in shooting on cityโs Southwest Side
SAN ANTONIO โ A 46-year-old man led law enforcement officers on a chase in Atascosa and Bexar counties Tuesday morning before he was shot near an elementary school, officials said. The man was taken to a hospital in critical condition, said Deputy Johnny Garcia, a Bexar County Sheriffโs Office spokesman. As the pickup approached Interstate 37 and Highway 97, the driver shot at officers, Soward said. None of the law enforcement officers were injured. Allen will remain under lockdown for several more hours as law enforcement process the scene.
Crime Spree suspect surrenders after being holed up in barn in Atascosa County
POTEET, Texas โ A 26-year-old Poteet man went on a crime spree in Atascosa County that ended when he surrendered to more than 30 law enforcement officers waiting for him outside of a barn he was holed up in, Atascosa County Sheriff David Soward said. Soward said the crime spree started Monday night when sheriffโs deputies responded to a report of a burglary north of Poteet. โPoteet PD lost sight of the truck and it was later spotted by sheriffโs deputies on FM 1470 northeast of Poteet,โ Soward said. However, the suspect escaped on foot, Soward said. Pleasanton Police will be filing charges regarding the theft of the 2019 Ram truck, Soward said.
Poteet ISD suspends extracurricular activities after โbreachโ of protocols during photo session with football players
ATASCOSA COUNTY, Texas โ The Poteet Independent School District has suspended extracurricular activities after what the superintendent said was a โbreachโ of protocols that involved a photo session with a county official and senior players of the football team and cheerleading squad. Superintendent Charles Camarillo posted a letter on Facebook saying the photo session with the county official was arranged by a school official who was in attendance and later tested positive for COVID-19. KSAT confirmed the county official who took the photos was Atascosa County Sheriff David Soward. Camarillo said a breach of protocols occurred when the county official took photos without a mask and added the district has a strict closed practice policy. RELATED: Pleasanton ISD suspends football practices after positive COVID-19 testThe letter said extracurricular activities were suspended for this week out of an abundance of caution.
Poteet man arrested after leading several agencies on chase, Atascosa County sheriff says
POTEET, Texas โ A 37-year-old man was arrested Wednesday afternoon after leading several law enforcement agencies on a chase through Atascosa County, Sheriff David Soward said. Poteet police terminated the pursuit, but about 30 minutes later, an Atascosa County sheriffโs deputy saw Rodriguezโs vehicle speeding in Jourdanton, Soward said. Man arrested in Atascosa County after chase, Photo: Jack Garcia (KSAT)Moments later, Texas Department of Publis Safety troopers began chasing Rodriguezโs vehicle on Highway 97 between Jourdanton and Pleasanton, Soward said. Rodriguez led troopers back to Jourdanton, Pleasanton and then towards Poteet on FM 476. He was booked into the Atascosa County Jail on charges of evading arrest and reckless driving.
Traffic stop leads to manโs arrest for smuggling illegal immigrants, officials say
ATASCOSA COUNTY, Texas โ A routine traffic stop led to the arrest of a Louisiana man for smuggling three undocumented, illegal immigrants, according to Atascosa County Sheriff David Soward. Officials say Roy Louis Schmidt, of New Orleans, concealed the immigrants in the back seat of his Ford pickup truck Saturday. A routine traffic stop yesterday in Jourdanton by Deputy Sheriff Shane Billings resulted in the arrest of a Louisiana... Posted by Sheriff David Soward, Atascosa County, Texas on Sunday, February 16, 2020The undocumented immigrants were turned over to U.S. Border Patrol, according to authorities. Border Patrol declined to charge Schmidt federally; however, deputies say he is facing charges in state court.
Atascosa County jailer arrested, accused of delivering meth to inmate
ATASCOSA COUNTY โ An Atascosa County jailer was arrested on felony charges less than two months after she started there, according to the sheriff. I... Posted by Sheriff David Soward, Atascosa County, Texas on Sunday, January 19, 2020Soward said deputies found methamphetamine in a jail cell a week prior to Howardโs arrest. Surveillance images allegedly show Howard delivering โan itemโ to an inmate and taking a payment in return, according to the news release. Bexar County Jail inmate to face additional charges after attacking inmate, officials sayHoward was terminated after she was arrested. Itโs part of my mission statement, especially incidents involving narcotics and the introduction of contraband into the jail,โ Soward said in the news release.
Sheriff launches campaign to have parole denied for 'Atascosa Ambush' convict
Sheriff launches campaign to have parole denied for 'Atascosa Ambush' convictPublished: January 9, 2020, 6:44 pmAtascosa County Sheriff David Soward has launched a campaign aimed at denying parole for an accomplice in the killing three law enforcement officers during an ambush in October 1999.