by ANDY SEVILLA
An Austin man charged in a Hays County complaint alleging his involvement in a February sexual assault in Kyle was arrested Tuesday morning by the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force.
Angel Hernandez, 21, also known as Angel Arturo Hernandez-Sustaita, was apprehended without incident in the 2400 block of Dovehill Drive in South Austin, according to a U.S. Marshals’ news release.
Hernandez had an active felony warrant for his arrest after police said two female victims were allegedly sexually assaulted at a party on Goforth Road in Kyle on Feb. 10.
The victims said they were provided alcohol and “felt unusually intoxicated for the amount of alcohol (they) had,” according to an arrest affidavit. The victims both became unconscious and awoke to two suspects engaging in an assault with both victims.
The victims told police they were unaware if anything was put in their drinks, the affidavit said.
A second suspect connected to the Feb. 10 party, Uriel Salinas, 20, was arrested March 18 and charged with sexual assault and sexual assault of a child, both second-degree felonies.
The Lone Star Fugitive Task Force, requested to assist in locating and apprehending Hernandez, initiated surveillance on several individuals associated with Hernandez, according to the release. Tuesday morning, task force officers continued to monitor pedestrian traffic at a Dovehill Drive residence and, after positively identifying Hernandez, law enforcement surrounded the suspect and placed him under arrest, the release said.
“Our commitment to join forces with our local task force partners to keep the community safe will remain my principle goal,” said Robert Almonte, United States Marshal for the Western District of Texas.
According to Kyle Police Chief Jeff Barnett, Hernandez’s attorney told police the suspect would turn himself into authorities no later than March 25. The attorney later told officers he no longer represented Hernandez after the suspect would not return his calls and failed to surrender.
Salinas has been in Hays County custody since his March 18 arrest and is being held on a $200,000 bond.
According to Salinas’ arrest affidavit, one of the two victims met Salinas on facebook, where they had been communicating for three months before accepting an invitation to a party at Salinas’ family’s place on Goforth Road in Kyle.
Kyle Police, Buda Police and the Hays County Sheriff’s Office are members of the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force in Austin, along with San Marcos Police. Other members include Austin Police, Texas Department of Criminal Justice OIG, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Attorney General’s Office, Cedar Park Police, Travis, Williamson, Caldwell and Bastrop County Sheriff’s Offices, Williamson County DA’s Office and the U.S. Marshals Service.
