Police scour neighborhood but don’t find suspect sought

San Marcos Police scoured a city neighborhood Tuesday morning looking for a suspect, but abandoned the search after not locating the man.

City Hall said at 10:48 a.m. that police, assisted by the Hays County Sheriff’s Office, city park rangers, local DPS troopers, a helicopter from the Austin Police Aviation Unit and two K-9 Units from New Braunfels, were on the lookout for a suspect who “ran from the police” and was believed to be “hiding in the Saddlebrook neighborhood” located on the north end of town.

Police did not name the suspect but described him as Hispanic, about six feet tall, bald and skinny, “with a tattoo on the back of his head” who was last seen waring a black shirt and red shorts.” A press release said he was “possibly armed with a handgun.”

Police Chief Chase Stapp said the search began around 9 a.m. but was called off at approximately 11:30 a.m.

Residents of the area were urged to remain inside and to notify police of anything suspicious they might see. “Residents who do not have a need to be in the area are urged to avoid the area,” the city said.

In announcing the end of the search, a subsequent message from City Hall said the man “had been fully identified.”

One motorcycle officer was injured responding to the call, the city said, when a motorist turned left into the path of the officer’s motorcycle. The officer was taken to Central Texas Medical Center for treatment of injuries described as minor.

Stapp did not say what the man was wanted for, but said he would provide updates on any charges that are forthcoming.