Two teenagers were arrested on weapons charges Sunday after an Odessa woman accused one of them of pointing a gun at her at an intersection.
According to an Odessa Police Department report, the 27-year-old woman told officers she was stopped at East University Boulevard and North Grandview Avenue around 3 p.m. Sunday when the passenger of a Jeep Compass pointed a small silver gun toward her vehicle, causing her to fear for her safety and the safety of her children.
An officer found the vehicle and stopped it in the 6200 block of Texas 191. A 14-year-old boy was inside the vehicle along with the driver, Vicente Barraza, 17, and front seat passenger, JoeAngel Juarez, 18, the report stated.
According to the report, officers found a loaded black 9 mm Springfield Armory Hellcat semi-automatic handgun and an unloaded chrome and blue Raven P-25 semi-automatic handgun in the Jeep. They also found a loaded black 9 mm Polymer80 semi-automatic handgun in Juarez’s sweatpants.
Officers also found less than two ounces of marijuana in a backpack in the rear passenger seat of the Jeep and a THC vape device in the possession of the 14-year-old, the report stated.
Officers learned the Springfield had been stolen out of a car earlier that day, the report stated.
Barraza was arrested on suspicion of theft of a firearm, unlawful carrying of a weapon and possession of marijuana. He was released from the Ector County jail Monday after posting surety bonds totaling $6,500.
Juarez was arrested on suspicion of theft of a firearm, unlawful carrying of a weapon and deadly conduct. He was released from the Ector County jail Monday after posting surety bonds totaling $8,000.
According to OPD records, Juarez was also arrested in August.
Undercover officers reported they’d arranged to buy an ounce of marijuana from Juarez at a West 10th Street business on Aug. 16 and watched Juarez and Jzyaiaz Llanez, 17, blow through a stop sign while heading toward the business.
The officers tried to pull the teenagers’ car over, but they evaded the officers. According to the report, Llanez crashed the car at 33rd Street and West County Road and he and Juarez ran away, but they were apprehended a short time later.
During a search of the car, officers found an ounce of marijuana and during a search of a home on Noble, they found five clear baggies of marijuana and a THC cartridge, the report stated.
Juarez was arrested on suspicion of evading arrest, delivery of marijuana, tampering with physical evidence and possession of a controlled substance, more than one gram, less than four grams.
Llanez was arrested on suspicion of two counts of evading in a motor vehicle, evading arrest and leaving the scene of an accident causing $200 or more in damage.
Ultimately both teenagers were indicted on the evading arrest charge alone.
Llanez pleaded guilty and was placed on three years’ deferred adjudication Jan. 18.
Juarez’s case is still pending.
