By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
A Del Rio teenager faces a trio of felony and misdemeanor criminal charges after police arrested her in early June for allegedly shooting at a vehicle.
Alleena Nicole Soto, 18, 100 E. Chapoy St., Apt. 100, was arrested at 3:40 p.m. on June 1 and has been charged with the offenses of terroristic threat fear of serious bodily injury, a third-degree felony; possession of a controlled substance, Penalty Group 1, less than 1 gram, a state jail felony; and possession of marijuana, less than 2 ounces, a Class B misdemeanor; according to police and court records requested by and released to the 830 Times.
In a police report filed in the case, DRPD Officer Javier Meza, who made the arrest, said he was dispatched to an area near the Don Marcelino restaurant, 1110 Veterans Blvd., “for subjects shooting BBs from a vehicle.”
“The vehicle was located at 613 E. Viesca St., after a victim followed the subjects. Four subjects were taken into custody,” Meza wrote in his initial report on the incident.
In an affidavit filed in the case, Meza wrote he had been dispatched to the area around the Don Marcelino restaurant, 1110 Veterans Blvd., at 3:15 p.m. on June 1 after police received a call about “a reckless driver and subjects shooting a gun from the vehicle.”
Meza said he arrived and spoke with the caller and reported that DRPD dispatchers notified him several other callers had made similar reports, identifying a black sport utility vehicle and providing the license plate number. He said the other callers also complained of persons “shooting from the vehicle.”
Meza wrote when he arrived at the scene, a female, later identified as Soto, began walking away. The officer said he attempted to speak with her, but Soto continued to walk away. Meza told Soto he was investigating several calls and said he placed her in handcuffs and set her into the back of his patrol unit as he continued his investigation.
“(The witness) stated he had a group of juveniles shoot at his car on Veterans Boulevard near the (restaurant). (The witness) advised Meza he followed them to the East Viesca Street address,” Meza wrote.
The witness also apparently showed the officer video footage in which “a subject is seen holding a black rifle-type gun outside the passenger window several times,” Meza said, noting the witness agreed to provide a statement about the incident.
“Officers received two other calls for the same vehicle shooting at other vehicles at other locations in the city of Del Rio. The ‘gun’ was located and found to be painted black, similar to a semi-auto(matic) rifle. (The witness) did advise that Soto was the subject shooting the gun, and Soto later stated she was the subject shooting from the vehicle,” Meza wrote.
Soto and three juveniles, whose names were not released, were taken into custody and charged with the offense of terroristic threat fear of serious bodily injury.
A spokesman for the police department provided the 830 Times with an additional statement about the weapon used in the incidents.
“The weapon is described as a splat ball gun that has been painted black to make it appear as a rifle. (The weapon) is also described by another officer as an ‘Orbeez gun,’ painted black,” the spokesman said.
Nationwide, teens have been arrested and faced numerous charges resulting from their participation in the “Orbeez Challenge,” as seen on the popular social media app TikTok. The challenge encourages TikTok users to purchase Orbeez gel or water balls and use airsoft guns to fire them at innocent bystanders.
Meza wrote in his affidavit that when he transported Soto to the police station for booking, he inventoried her belongings and found a clear plastic baggie containing a white powdery substance that field-tested positive as cocaine in her purse. In the same purse, the officer said he also found a clear plastic baggie containing a green leafy substance that field tested positive as marijuana.
Soto was additionally charged with two drug-possession offenses.
Bonds totaling $14,000 were set in the cases against Soto by Justice of the Peace Pct. 2 Antonio Faz III.
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