Chief Stringer Expresses Concern Over $100 Bond for Suspect Armed Near Baytown School

BAYTOWN, Texas, Aug. 28, 2023 – Baytown Police Chief John Stringer issued a statement today expressing concern over the $100 bond set for a man who was apprehended near a school while openly carrying a firearm and multiple rounds of ammunition.

The incident occurred at approximately 11:30 a.m. when officers were dispatched to a school on the 1900 block of Decker Drive. The Baytown Police Department, in collaboration with the Goose Creek CISD Police Department, responded immediately. The suspect, identified as 18-year-old Emmanuel Lopez of Baytown, was detained minutes after a 911 call was made.

The suspect was arrested and charged with Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon on School Grounds. The weapon was also found to be allegedly stolen. Lopez was taken to Baytown jail without incident.

Chief Stringer emphasized that the departments’ rapid response likely averted a “horrific scene of casualties,” adding that the community demands swift action to keep loved ones safe. “Now, I call upon the next level of the criminal justice system to do its part in ensuring the bad guys aren’t back on the street,” said Stringer.

The arrest comes after both police departments recently participated in an active shooter response drill to prepare for such incidents. Stringer praised the relationship between the Baytown Police and Goose Creek CISD Police departments, as well as the local community, for their vigilance and quick reporting of suspicious activities.

All persons arrested are afforded all guaranteed constitutional rights and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.