Man Accused of Stealing Vehicle Minutes After Release From Pearland City Jail

PEARLAND, Texas – A man released from the Pearland City Jail was back in custody less than three hours later after police said he stole a vehicle from a nearby gas station and fled toward Houston.

Helvin Luis Alvarado Pagan was released from the city jail at approximately 9:03 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25, according to the Pearland Police Department.

About an hour later, police said he stole a vehicle less than a mile away.

Officers were called around 10:17 a.m. to the Chevron at 8416 Broadway St. after receiving a report of a vehicle theft in progress.

The vehicle’s owner told officers he had been airing up his tires in the parking lot when someone drove away in his vehicle.

Security video from the gas station showed a man wearing red shorts and a gray Jordan T-shirt leaving in the stolen vehicle, police said.

A Pearland police crime analyst identified the suspect as Pagan, who had recently been released from jail. Police said Pagan matched the man captured on surveillance video and was wearing the same clothing shown in his booking photograph.

Investigators determined the vehicle was taken around 10:10 a.m., approximately 67 minutes after Pagan’s release.

Officers and detectives used Flock license plate recognition cameras to track the stolen vehicle. Within minutes of the theft, a camera detected it near Howard Drive and the Gulf Freeway in Houston.

Around 11:20 a.m., detectives spotted a vehicle matching the description traveling west on Howard Drive.

Police said the driver was speeding and ran a red light at Belfort Street and the Gulf Freeway. Detectives followed but lost sight of the vehicle after it turned south onto Broadway because of what police described as reckless driving.

Officers began checking nearby apartment complexes and located Pagan at 8405 Broadway St.

Police said he was still wearing the same clothing he had on when he left the Pearland City Jail and was carrying a clear plastic bag containing his belongings.

Officers took Pagan into custody and recovered the keys to the stolen vehicle.

The vehicle was recovered less than two hours after it was reported stolen, according to police.

Pagan was returned to the Pearland City Jail and charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and theft of a firearm, both state jail felonies.

Police did not provide additional details about the firearm theft or explain whether the gun was inside the stolen vehicle.