Saturday, July 6, just after 5:30 a.m., the Garland Police Department and Garland Fire Department responded to a gas leak in the 5300 block of North Garland Road. Investigators could hear the sound of gas coming from a regulator station located in front of one of the businesses. It appeared several test points were intentionally damaged by an unknown object.
GPD officers located a bag near the regulator station which contained information identifying a male subject, 40-year-old Lauro Espinosa Gonzalez, a Dallas resident.
While investigating the gas leak police received a call regarding an unconscious person across the street from the regulator station near one of the stores in the 5300 block of North Garland Road.
The male was located and identified as Gonzalez. Gonzalez was initially arrested for misdemeanor warrants.
During the investigation it was determined Gonzalez was responsible for the damage done to the regulator station. It appears to have been an intentional act of vandalism.
Gonzalez is charged with Criminal Mischief – Damage to Public Utilities and is in the Garland Detention Center.
This is an ongoing investigation.