By Anita Miller
An El Paso man with prior arrests for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated robbery now faces a charge of aggravated assault on a public servant following his arrest in a wooded area of Blanco County Sunday morning.
Nathaniel Castro, 22, and Klarissa Soto, 19, were apprehended after a night-long search after fleeing a crash that ended a pursuit during which a Hays County Deputy Sheriff’s vehicle was fired upon. A third person who was detained was later released.
In a Sunday afternoon press conference, Sheriff Gary Cutler said the three were in a 1999 Toyota that a deputy attempted to pull over in the 700 block of Fitzhugh Road near Dripping Springs around 9:30 Saturday night because of an issue with the vehicle’s registration.
The Toyota stopped briefly but then took off, leading the deputy, who was joined by others, on a pursuit down Hwy. 290 east at speeds that topped 100 mph. Near the intersection of Hwy. 290 and Hwy. 281 not far from Johnson City, the driver apparently lost control and the vehicle went off the roadway.
One person was taken into custody then but the other two fled. Cutler said no weapon was recovered and it’s not know what type of weapon was used or how many shots were fired, but that the search for it continues.
He said the search effort got assistance from a variety of law enforcement agencies who brought helicopters, drones, K-9 units and SWAT teams from agencies as far away as the Bureau of ATF, who responded from San Antonio.
Cutler said reports from civilians helped locate the two who fled, but could not confirm reports posted by the Blanco County Office of Emergency Management Sunday morning that the Reverse 911 system was used to alert people who lived near where the suspects were thought to be.
He said the pair were located after sunrise on Sunday. Both are now in Hays County Jail facing charges including evading arrest and aggravated assault on a public servant. Charges against the their person are still possible.
Neither Castro or Soto had been before a magistrate at the time of the press conference.
