Austin Police Officers Arrest Several Suspects in Connection to an Illegal Sale of Laughing Gas in Downtown Austin

On Wednesday, April 19, 2023, at approximately 11:40 p.m., Austin Police Department (APD) officers responded to reports of illegal activity near the ACL Live at the Moody Theater at 310 W 2nd Street. Officers discovered a group of suspects who arrived in two separate vehicles—the suspects parked at the intersection of 3rd Street and Lavaca and the 300 block of 2nd Street.

The suspects waited for the venue’s customers to exit the show before they approached them to illegally sell balloons filled with Nitrous Oxide, also known as laughing gas.

Officers arrested seven men and confiscated 13 Nitrous Oxide tanks and hundreds of balloons. In addition to confiscating the Nitrous Oxide tanks and balloons, police also seized two pistols.