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Klarissa Soto, 19, and Nathaniel Castro, 22

Additional warrants issued for Dripping Springs chase suspects

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

The Hays County Sheriff's Office issued additional warrants for two suspects involved in a car chase and shooting that occurred on Saturday. 

A Hays County sheriff’s deputy initiated a traffic stop on a 1999 red Toyota passenger car in the 700 block of Old Fitzhugh Rd. in Dripping Springs at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Saturday. The vehicle stopped for a moment but began to flee. A passenger in the fleeing vehicle began shooting at the deputy, Hays County Sheriff Gary Cutler said during a press conference Sunday. 

The vehicle, which was traveling at an excess of over 100 mph, crashed near the intersection of U.S. Highway 281 and Highway 290 south of Johnson City in Blanco County. One occupant was arrested, later identified as Michael Villegas, while two occupants fled by foot. 

Texas Department of Public Safety officers apprehended Nathaniel Castro, 22, and Klarissa Soto, 19, in connection with Saturday’s incident in a wooded area near the scene of the crash Sunday morning after a night-long search. 

Castro and Soto were originally charged with aggravated assault of a public servant, evading arrest by vehicle and evading arrest by foot. Castro was additionally charged with tampering with physical evidence with intent to impair and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon on Feb. 11. Soto was also charged with tampering with physical evidence with intent to impair. Bonds haven’t been set for these charges.

Bonds, however, were set at $1,000,000 for the aggravated assault on the public servant on Castro and $750,000 for the same charge on Soto, and $500,000 for each of the evading charges for both Castro and Soto. 

Villegas was not charged in the incident.

The HCSO’s investigation discovered that Castro had a multitude of felony warrants originating out of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office. There were a total of five counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, three counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and one count of continuous family violence. Castro is being held on these charges with a total bond amount of $900,000. 

HCSO has yet to find the firearm used in this incident and the search continues to locate it. The area covers up to 17 miles on each side of the roadway on Highway 290 where the pursuit occurred. Weather conditions are also making it difficult to find this weapon used in the assault.

Any with information regarding this case contact the Hays County Sheriff’s Office at 512-393-7896 and speak with the Criminal Investigations Division or you may contact the Hays County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-324-TIPS (8477). You may also submit information electronically from the link on the Hays County Crime Stoppers website or by using the free smartphone application from any smart phone. The application is P3tips.com. Information leading to the arrest and indictment of criminal suspect(s) may be eligible for a CASH reward of up to $1,000. All calls are confidential and callers will remain anonymous. You do not have to give your name and you will not have to testify in court.

San Marcos Record

(512) 392-2458
P.O. Box 1109, San Marcos, TX 78666