By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
A 48-year-old Del Rio man has been arrested and charged with two felony offenses following an investigation into the death of a 72-year-old man here on Dec. 12, police said today.
Del Rio Police Department Detective Darian Castro, the lead investigator in the case, identified the arrested man as Jose Angel Arreola Jr., a resident of Del Rio. Castro said Arreola has been charged with the offenses of theft of property, greater than or equal to $2,500, less than $30,000; and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, both state jail felonies.
The investigation that led to Arreola’s arrest began when DRPD patrol officers were dispatched to 1112 Ave. K at 4:33 p.m. on Dec. 12.
“The initial call came out as a welfare check to the patrol division. . . Concerned relatives hadn’t heard from their relative (at that address), and they requested a welfare check,” Castro said in an interview at the police station today.
Castro said the relatives went to the Avenue K residence and when no one responded there, they went to the police station and requested officers’ help in contacting their relative.
“From the observations of the police officers who (went to the residence), they were unable to make contact, but they did observe some blood (inside the home) through one of the windows, and they contacted our (criminal investigations division) supervisor for assistance, so that’s when I was called out there to assist them,” Castro said.
He said he and other officers found a clearer view to the interior of the residence and saw more blood inside.
“We made entry due to the exigent circumstances and the nature of the call, and once we made entry, we found the 72-year-old deceased male,” Castro said.
The detective confirmed the identity of the dead man as Raul Torres, who lived at the Avenue K address.
Torres’ body was sent to Laredo for an autopsy at the Webb County Medical Examiner’s Office, and Castro said he has spoken with the medical examiner, but is still waiting on a report before he commenting on the cause of Torres’ death or the nature of the injuries police observed.
Castro said officers at the scene canvassed the neighborhood and learned Torres lived with a relative, identified as Jose Angel Arreola Jr., the man who was later arrested.
Castro said Arreola was taken into custody by the officers with the Leon Valley Police Department, who had arrested Arreola for the burglary of a habitation, also a felony, which had reportedly occurred in Leon Valley.
Arreola was arrested on Sunday, Castro said. He added Castro has not been returned to Del Rio.
Asked whether he believed Arreola is the person who killed Torres, Castro said, “So far, in the investigation, the evidence that we recovered, is suggesting that he is a person of interest.”
Castro added, however, that Arreola was served with a murder warrant while he was in custody in Leon Valley.
Castro said the property alleged to have been stolen from Torres is a newer-model Chevrolet Equinox. He said this is also the vehicle Arreola is alleged to have used without Torres’ permission.
A press release on Arreola’s arrest issued by the police department today indicates that police filed the Chevy Equinox as stolen in state and national databases. The Chevy Equinox was located in Leon Valley and returned to Del Rio.
“On Dec. 17, detectives obtained a search warrant for (Torres’) vehicle, resulting in the discovery of the suspected weapon used in the crime, described as a machete. (An) arrest warrant was obtained against Arreola for the offense of murder. The arrest warrant was issued and later executed against Jose Angel Arreola Jr. at the Bexar County Adult Detention Center, where he remains in custody,” the news release reads.
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