Harlingen police blotter

Valley Morning Star

HARLINGEN — A 22-year-old woman who has evaded police for almost two years was arrested Tuesday during a routine traffic stop.

Cassandra Marie Gonzalez was involved in an automobile accident on April 6, 2010, in the area of 7th Street and Loop 499, according to a police department press release.

Gonzalez’s tan 2001 Nissan Sentra collided with a white 1999 Oldsmobile SUV, whose driver was injured and taken to a hospital for treatment.

Witnesses said that Gonzalez, the driver of the Nissan, walked away from the accident, failed to leave information or render aid, according to a HPD release.

She was later located and arrested on a charge with causing an accident involving injury, a third-degree felony, and various traffic violations related to the accident.

Gonzalez was taken to the city jail, and then taken to Valley Baptist Medical Center for treatment of injuries.

Both the transporting and booking officers advised Gonzalez that she was under arrest and was not free to leave the hospital. If she did, it would be considered escape from custody, according to a HPD press release.

Hospital staff reported, according to police records, that Gonzalez left the hospital at 12:40 p.m., without treatment. Officers were unable to locate her and a detective obtained an arrest warrant for escape, a third-degree felony.

On Tuesday, Harlingen police stopped a blue four-door passenger vehicle in the 1700 block of East Harrison Avenue around 5:30 p.m. for having no brake lights.

A records check revealed that Gonzalez, the passenger, was wanted for felony escape.

While searching the car during the arrest, police located 2.7 grams of marijuana, and added a marijuana possession charge, according to the police statement.

Gonzalez was arraigned Wednesday and bond was set at $20,000 for escape and $750 for possession of marijuana.

HARLINGEN — An 18-year-old Harlingen man was arrested for assault early Tuesday at a residence in the 200 block of West Polk Avenue.

Police officers were called to the location in response to a disturbance in progress around 4 a.m. where they found Javier Resendez in  a bedroom with a knife.

Resendez was bleeding from his knuckles and told police he punched his uncle and a wall, according to a HPD press release.

His uncle, an unidentified 44-year-old Harlingen resident, advised police that Resendez was outside yelling at someone. So the man went to see what was happening.

The victim told police Resendez turned and charged him, punching him in the face causing pain, swelling and redness to his forehead and cheek area, according to a HPD press release.

Officers arrested Resendez for assault-family violence, a Class A misdemenor, and took him to the city jail.

Resendez was arraigned Wednesday on the charge of assault and bond was set at $3,000.

The victim declined medical treatment.

HARLINGEN — A 17-year-old Harlingen man was arrested Tuesday for the second time in two weeks for resisting arrest.

At around 10:15 p.m. Tuesday, police arrested Justin Lugo when a Harlingen police officer and a juvenile probation officer visited his residence in the 1200 block East Jackson Avenue. They found Lugo, who had an active Directive to Apprehend warrant issued by the Texas Juvenile Justice System.

The officers advised Lugo that he would be arrested. He initially turned around and put his hands behind his back, according to an HPD press release, but as the officer was about to handcuff Lugo, he pulled away his hands and ran.

The officer caught Lugo, who continued to struggle against the officer, according to a HPD press release.

After a few moments of continued resistence, Lugo gave up, was arrested and taken to the City Jail.

Lugo was arrainged Wednesday and bond on the charge of resisting arrest was set at $1,500.

On Feb. 21, members of the Harlingen Police Department’s Gang Eradication Team went to the 1500 Block of Ball Street to look for Lugo.

They found him and another subject in the front yard of a residence and approached them. They ran away when officers approached them.

Police caught a 15-year-old boy who was with Lugo, who continued to evade the officers.

Lugo doubled back and ran inside the residence. Officers followed him and while arresting Lugo, a 16-year-old girl punched one of them in the face.

Lugo was arrainged on Feb. 22 for the charge of evading arrest and bond was set at $1,000.

HARLINGEN — A 27-year-old Harlingen man was arrested Tuesday night for possession of marijuana.

Harlingen police officers stopped Robert Wayne Johnson, who was riding his bicycle in the 900 block of Falcon Street, for operating a bicycle without a light, according to an HPD press release.

During the interview, an officer conducted a pat-down search of Johnson, and found a knife and a plastic bag containing .27 ounces of marijuana.

Johnson was arrested for possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor, and taken to City Jail.

He was arraigned Wednesday and bond was set at $750.