SAN ANTONIO – A 19-year-old man has been arrested after police say he robbed someone at gunpoint while impersonating a police officer near Lytle, Texas, Bexar County arrest records show.
David Anthony Morales, 19, was taken into police custody.
According an arrest affidavit, Morales was seen by Lytle police back on July 7 standing on the side of the road impersonating a police officer while possessing an AR-15 rifle and attempting to rob someone.
The affidavit says two people were witnessed by the officer forced to lie face down on the ground with their hands zip-tied behind their back, near a vehicle. When the Lytle police officer activated his own emergency overhead lights believing a traffic stop was taking place, the men he believed to be officers instead entered the rear of their own car and tried to drive off, the affidavit states.
The officer then attempted to conduct his own traffic stop of the vehicle fleeing, but a chase instead ensued. The tan 2013 Porsche Cayenne eventually crashed into a railroad-crossing fixture, forcing all five of the occupants to flee on foot, police said.
The affidavit did not say if any of the men were taken into custody. A search of the vehicle discovered two cellphones and stolen Shavano Park Police Department equipment, along with a Glock pistol with a laser-sight attached.
The two victims of the robbery stated they believed they had been pulled over by a real officer only moments before being tied up and told not to move or they would be shot, the affidavit states. The victim’s own handgun and jewelry were then stolen by the individuals.
The affidavit said Texas Rangers eventually obtained search warrants for the cellphones found inside the Porsche and one of them had photos showing Morales wearing the stolen Shavano Park Police Department items, along with holding a handgun that appears to be the same one recovered from the crash scene after the pursuit.
During the course of the investigation, more photos in Morales’ phone showed a picture of a stolen vehicle parked in the driveway of his house. The vehicle was recovered by SAPD and during the return of the vehicle, a Shavano Police Department hat, as well as a renewed Texas Identification card issued to Morales were both found.
Morales is charged with aggravated robbery, impersonating a public servant, evading arrest and and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
His bond is set at $165,000.