EDINBURG — An Alton teen is facing multiple counts of aggravated robbery and burglary after police say he committed a string of crimes before leading them on a chase as they closed in on him.
Jose Luis Hernandez, 18, made an initial appearance before a judge at the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office Friday afternoon. There, he was charged with aggravated robbery and burglary of habitation.
The judge set total bond at $125,000.
“On the first charge of aggravated robbery, which is a first-degree felony, I’m gonna set the bond in the amount of $75,000 cash or surety. And on the second charge of burglary of habitation, I’m gonna set the bond at $50,000 cash or surety, OK?” the judge said as Hernandez stood quietly in the small courtroom.
Afterward, officials with the Alton Police Department held a news conference to detail the litany of offenses they allege Hernandez committed prior to his arrest.
Hernandez allegedly broke into a home where he stole multiple firearms before stealing a vehicle from another nearby home, according to Sgt. Ruben Lozano, of the Alton Police Department’s criminal investigations division.
“On Tuesday, Sept. 6 at approximately 1:39 p.m., the Alton Police Department received a phone call regarding shots being fired and an aggravated robbery that had just occurred in the area of West Diamondhead Avenue and North Dakota Street,” Lozano said.
No one was hurt in the incidents.
Meanwhile, later that night, Hernandez allegedly used the stolen vehicle to commit another crime — a fact Alton police would go on to be made aware of by the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff’s investigators notified Alton PD that “they had located the stolen vehicle in the area of Four Mile Road and Texan Road,” Lozano said.
“The Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office also determined that Mr. Hernandez committed a burglary of building in their jurisdiction the night before using our stolen vehicle,” he further said.
As the investigation continued, Alton investigators took two of Hernandez’s “known associates” into custody at an address on Thicket Lane. Both of the individuals were armed, but police determined they had not been involved in the burglaries or robberies.
But while officers were still with the two individuals, they received word of another aggravated robbery nearby.
“With the assistance of DPS and the sheriff’s office, there was a pursuit at the scene right after that,” Lozano said.
The suspect who had fled from police turned out to be Hernandez.
Lozano credits the quick capture of Hernandez to interagency teamwork, which included the sheriff’s office, Texas DPS, Precinct 3 Constables, La Joya ISD police, Palmview police and the U.S. Marshals.
“This case is a prime example of how information sharing and collaboration between law enforcement agencies is vital to bringing the criminal element to justice,” Lozano said.
In all, Hernandez faces two charges of aggravated robbery, one each of burglary of a building and of a habitation, possession of a controlled substance, failure to identify, and evading arrest.
He is currently being held at the Hidalgo County jail on $217,500 in bonds, including the two counts he was charged with on Friday.
However, this isn’t the first time Hernandez has been placed behind bars for similar charges.
Last July, Hernandez was booked on multiple charges, including two burglaries of a vehicle, three burglaries of buildings, four thefts between $2,500 and $30,000, criminal mischief, and two evading arrest charges.
He ultimately pleaded guilty to two counts of theft, and one count of burglary of a building. He was sentenced to six months in jail beginning on March 30, but was given credit for the time he had spent in custody pending trial.
Jail records show he was released from custody on April 20.
