Man accused of burglary spree in San Juan

SAN JUAN — A purported gang member accused of a burglary spree in this city was formally charged Tuesday afternoon.

Arturo Gonzalez, 19, allegedly broke into the Texas Migrant Council on Sunday night in search of cash, officials said.

"He wanted money for drugs," said Rolando Garcia, a San Juan police spokesman.

An alarm at the Texas Migrant Council, 202 N. San Antonio Ave., alerted police to the break-in. Officers spent about an hour and a half scouring the area on foot and by car and by air before catching Gonzales at the Country Palms RV & MH Park, 600 E. Farm-to-Market Road 495.

Gonzalez eventually confessed to six other burglaries at various San Juan homes, plus several others in Pharr, Garcia said.

At the suspect's arraignment Tuesday, Gonzalez turned away from media cameras as San Municipal Judge Ricardo Perez charged him with burglary of a building, evading arrest and six counts of burglary of a habitation.

Gonzalez told the judge he was a member of the Poboys, a Las Milpas gang.

According to public records, he has prior convictions for drug possession, burglary of a vehicle, criminal trespass and evading arrest.

He remained at the Hidalgo County Jail on Tuesday night in lieu of a $67,000 bond.

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Ana Ley covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4428.