December 20, 2007

TRASH PICK UP FOR THE HOLIDAYS
The City of Midland Sanitation Division is spreading the word to residents about what to expect for trash services during the Christmas and New Year holidays. 

Most residents are familiar with the system of trash being picked up the first business day after the holiday.  This year that falls on Wednesday, December 26 and Wednesday, January 2.

Resident with cart service in newly developed areas in north and northwest Midland are asked to keep their carts out of sight until collection day.  Cart service will be picked up on December 26 & 27 (first pass) and December 28 (second pass).  The week of New Year’s will include regular service on Monday and Thursday.

Thank you for your patience during the holiday season. 

OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING
The Midland Police Department and the Texas Rangers are investigating an officer involved shooting following an early morning incident.

At approximately 6:16 a.m., on December 20, 2007, officers with the Midland Police Department’s SWAT Team were executing a high risk narcotics search warrant at 905 N. Weatherford.  The Narcotics Unit had been working the case and due to information obtained on the suspect and the location, a SWAT team was used to execute the warrant.

Once at the residence, the SWAT Team used forced entry.  While clearing the house, two officers clearing a bedroom were faced with the male suspect pointing a gun at them.  He was in the bedroom, backed into a corner facing the officers with a semi-automatic gun pointed at them.  One of the MPD officers fired his weapon, a .223 caliber rifle, fatally shooting the suspect.  It is unknown how many times he fired his weapon.  It is undetermined where the suspect was shot.  Also in the bedroom at the time of the shooting, a 20-year-old female who was later found hiding under blankets on the floor.  She was not arrested. 

The deceased suspect is 38-year-old Alfredo Losoya Vela (5-4-69).  He was wanted for delivery of a controlled substance.  Inside the residence, officers have located two pistols, in addition to the one the suspect was armed with, heroin, marijuana, cocaine, and a large sum of cash. 

An autopsy will be performed on the deceased. 

As part of normal procedure, the M.P.D. Shoot Team is conducting an investigation and the Texas Rangers will conduct a separate investigation.  The Shoot Team investigates any incident where an officer discharges a weapon inside the city limits.  Officer Mark Garza, the SWAT officer who fired the fatal shot, is being placed on Administrative Leave with pay pending the outcome of the investigation.  The 33-year-old officer has worked for the MPD for five years.  This is normal procedure in an officer involved shooting and does not mean the officer did anything wrong in the course of duty.  The investigation will determine if there was any wrongdoing.

The last time an M.P.D. officer used deadly force was in April 2007.

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