On July 23rd, 2019, at approximately 7:45pm, the New Braunfels Police Department responded to the Circle K location in the 1000 block of I-35 South at Walnut Avenue for a report that a male had stolen a red Ford pickup truck that had been left running in the parking lot. Officers arrived and began investigating. Minutes later, at approximately 7:59pm, officers received reports that a second red Ford pickup truck had been stolen, this time in the area of the New Braunfels Marketplace Shopping Center in the 600 block of North Business I-35. Additional investigation revealed that the same suspect had damaged the rims of the first truck he had stolen, forcing him to come to a stop. The driver of the second red truck had stopped to render aid, unaware of his criminal activity. The suspect took advantage of the situation, entered the second red pickup truck, and fled the scene, but not before backing into a nearby vehicle.
Moments later, at approximately 8:01pm, more 911 calls came in, this time for a traffic accident at South Seguin Avenue at Garden Street where a red pickup truck had struck two vehicles before fleeing the scene towards the Main Plaza. Three adults suffered non life-threatening injuries from that crash and were transported by EMS to local hospitals. Responding officers began combing the area and discovered that the suspect had crashed the truck near Castell Ave. and W. San Antonio Street. Within minutes, the suspect was located on foot in the 400 block of Hill Avenue. After spotting the officers, the suspect fled on foot but was quickly apprehended and taken into custody. Despite the suspect refusing to give his correct identification, officers were eventually able to identify him as 35-year old Guillermo Angel Velasquez of Omaha, Nebraska. Velasquez was then transported to Christus Santa Rosa Hospital New Braunfels for a leg injury he sustained during his arrest. While at the hospital (where he was medically cleared), and throughout his transport to the Comal County Jail, Velasquez continuously resisted officers. Once at the jail, he was charged with the following crimes:
- Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle (x2) – State Jail Felony
- Accident Involving Injury (x3) – State Jail Felony
- Evading Arrest or Detention – Class A Misdemeanor
- Resisting Arrest, Search, or Transport – Class A Misdemeanor
- Accident Involving Damage to Vehicle >= $200 – Class B Misdemeanor
- Duty Upon Striking an Unattended Vehicle – Class B Misdemeanor
- Failure to Identify – Class B Misdemeanor
- Public Intoxication – Class C Misdemeanor
As of this release, only a portion of Velasquez’s bond had been set at $12,500. Additional bonds will be forthcoming and additional charges may be pending.