Murder suspect recorded fatal chase, affidavit says

New details have emerged in the death of an 18-year-old man and the arrest of a Midland man charged with murder after a deadly crash. Roberto Pando III, 36, was booked into the Midland County Detention Center on a first-degree felony murder charge. No bond or attorney information was listed in jail records. According to an arrest affidavit obtained by the Reporter-Telegram, a video recorded on Pando’s cellphone showed the fatal pursuit and collision. In the affidavit, detectives noted that a 2009 Ford F-150 had collided with a concrete retention wall beneath the intersection of North Fairgrounds Road and Loop 250. Detectives said the vehicle had significant front-end damage. At the scene, detectives were also made aware of a 911 call made by one of the occupants of the Ford shortly before the crash. During the emergency call, the affidavit noted that the occupants of the Ford could be heard expressing fear and concern that another pickup truck was following them from their neighborhood. “The occupants appeared frightened and stated that the driver of the pickup displayed a firearm,” said the affidavit. “At one point during the 911 call, a loud popping sound could be heard in the background. Immediately afterward, the occupants of the vehicle reacted by yelling that they were being shot at and could be heard instructing one another to duck down inside the vehicle.” Detectives in the case noted that one of the occupants had a Life360 account. Using that information, detectives said they were able to contact a resident at the location where the location history originated and obtain surveillance video. Detectives said the video showed the Ford driving through the neighborhood multiple times before another vehicle followed it at a high rate of speed. Detectives said they canvassed the 2600 block of Ranch Avenue to obtain additional surveillance footage related to the crash. During the canvass, detectives contacted Pando. Detectives said that when they began speaking with Pando, he admitted to following the Ford from the area of Ranch Avenue toward Elkins Road and eventually toward Loop 250. “Pando claimed he was attempting to obtain the vehicle’s license plate because of recent burglaries in the neighborhood,” said detectives in the affidavit. Additionally, Pando showed detectives a video he had recorded on his cellphone during the pursuit of the Ford. When detectives asked Pando about the vehicle that he had been driving, he stated that he was operating a 2022 GMC pickup truck. Detectives detained Pando based on information obtained during the investigation. He was then taken to the Midland Police Department for questioning. Detectives said Pando was then read his Miranda warning. During the police interview, detectives said Pando admitted that the video he had previously shown detectives was only a cropped portion of the original recording. Additionally, Pando told detectives that he was afraid to provide the complete video because he had been intoxicated during the pursuit and was currently facing his second DWI charge. Detectives said Pando admitted to following the Ford from the 2600 block of Ranch Avenue through the Occidental area, past Elkins Road, back onto Elkins Road and ultimately toward Loop 250, where the pursuit ended. Pando also told detectives that, immediately before the crash, he cut in front of the Ford near the Loop 250 North Service Road. The original, unedited video detectives obtained from Pando’s cellphone showed him following directly behind the Ford while traveling at speeds reaching 115 mph. “The video further corroborated Pando’s statements regarding the route of travel and the events leading up to the fatal crash,” said the affidavit. Midland police said additional charges are pending as the investigation into the injured passengers continues.