Austin church associates support law enforcement catch burglary suspects
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Terrified and annoyed — that’s how church users at Misión Cristiana Internacional LIDS explain their emotions whilst watching a suspect consider 1000’s of dollars value of equipment from their sanctuary.
Their story is a person numerous churchgoers are sharing. Records from Austin Law enforcement Office show there have been just about as lots of church burglaries this 12 months as there have been in all of 2020.
Luckily for customers at Misión Cristiana Internacional LIDS, the two suspects linked to their burglary were caught.
Law enforcement explained it happened about 5 p.m. Wednesday. Safety video captured by the church’s digital camera reveals what John Quinones, the church’s communications coordinator, calls a brazen act inside the sanctuary. It is the second time their church was hit in just two weeks.
“He took a guitar, base, loads of sound equipment, and regrettably it was correct before our youth team conference,” Quinones explained.
His sister-in-legislation, Stephanie Chavarria, was quickly alerted by the alarm corporation when the theft occurred and watched the protection online video in real time Wednesday afternoon.
“This is a residence of worship — who in their sane mentality does that?” Chavarria questioned. “He’s going all-around with a flashlight, by no means turned the light-weight on, he’s just wanting around to see what he can take on the phase.”
She quickly instructed her partner and termed Quinones and the pastor. They all raced to the church. Their pastor was the first one there and explained he encountered the suspect stated in court files as Silvo-Alejandro Gonzalez.
Surveillance video clip shows Gonzalez with hundreds of bucks truly worth of audio products in hand. All of the gear was acquired by their users.
“[The pastor] explained to him in English ‘why are you stealing from my church?’ And the dude broke absent, and he claimed, ‘no continue to be listed here, the cops are coming.’ And [the suspect] attained back again and motioned like he had a gun and claimed, ‘you are heading to regret this if you try out to continue to keep me here,’” Quinones discussed.
Gonzalez escaped, and law enforcement mentioned he ran under an overpass down Freeway 290. The pastor adopted him and flagged law enforcement. Law enforcement got a description from witnesses, and officers found him near a sign by the YMCA. Gonzalez saw law enforcement and started off to operate. Police instructed him to end, and they claimed he refused. Just after a small chase, police caught him.
According to court files, Gonzalez informed law enforcement he was walking down the street and picked the products up. He admitted he experienced a gun and stashed it in a bag by the YMCA. Law enforcement discovered the gun, alongside with a computer system that belonged to the church’s pastor.
Just before the arrest of Gonzalez, Quinones and his relatives caught a second suspect, later on recognized as Audriana Contero.
Church customers explained she experienced been the only automobile parked at the church. A member tried to block the exit to the parking good deal but explained Contero drove on the curb to escape. Quinones and his mother-in-regulation caught up with Contero in their autos and boxed her car or truck in until police arrived, and she was arrested.
Police stated Contero denied knowing Gonzalez and explained she just dropped him off in the vicinity of the church. Gonzalez afterwards discovered her as his “wife.” She admitted to aiding Gonzalez by giving him transportation to commit a theft of the church.
Contero and Gonzalez are going through many expenses which includes burglary, possession of a managed substance and robbery by menace.
The church lost thousands of pounds in tools. They are accepting donations on Venmo (@mcilidsusa) and CashApp ($MCILIDSUSA).