Man Charged With Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle after Brief Foot Pursuit

On Saturday, June 28, 2014, at approximately 3:30 p.m., San Angelo Police Officer L. Cortinas was patrolling the area of Sector 2 near the 900 block of Spaulding Street when he observed a black Dodge Avenger traveling eastbound.
Aware that a 2010 black Dodge Avenger was recently listed on the Department’s Stolen Vehicle list, Officer Cortinas caught up with the vehicle and ran a license plate check.  Shortly after receiving confirmation that the vehicle was listed as stolen, the driver of the Avenger pulled into the North alley of the Fairview Mobile Home Park located at 311 N. Bell Street.

When the vehicle stopped, the driver exited, failed to comply with Officer Cortinas’ commands and ran away.  Police soon caught the suspect in the North alley of the 1500 block of Koberlin Street.   He was identified as Tarren R. Watson of San Angelo.  Once in custody, Watson requested medical attention.  San Angelo Fire Department Medics responded to the scene to assess Watson’s condition and transported him by ambulance to Shannon Medical Center.

Watson was released from Shannon Medical Center after showing no signs of distress and was transported to the Tom Green County Jail where he was booked on charges of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Evading Arrest Detention and seven outstanding Arrest Warrants.  Watson also received Class C Misdemeanor Citations for Driving While License Invalid and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Two passengers who stayed inside the vehicle after Watson ran were identified and released at the scene.

The owner of the Dodge Avenger, who initially reported the vehicle stolen on June 25, 2014, responded to the scene and took possession of the vehicle.