Two arrested in Laredo after police locate San Antonio stolen Kia Soul on Zaragoza Street

Traffic stop and detention followed reports of suspicious behavior near a local business

Laredo police arrested two people after locating a vehicle reported stolen in San Antonio, detaining the pair late Tuesday, Feb. 3, in the 1000 block of Zaragoza Street.

Police said officers encountered the stolen vehicle, identified as a Kia Soul, at about 11:30 p.m. Investigators reported that a man and a woman exited the car and entered a nearby business. Staff at the business later indicated the two were not customers, and officers detained them after observing what police described as suspicious behavior.

Suspects identified; police allege driver admitted operating the stolen vehicle

The suspects were identified as Webb Buckner, 41, and Brandy Bankston, 26. Police said Buckner admitted to driving the Kia Soul.

Authorities booked Buckner on charges that include unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, unlawful use of a criminal instrument, and failure to identify as a fugitive. Police also reported he had an outstanding warrant connected to unlawful carrying of a weapon with a felony conviction, and he faced an additional weapons-related allegation tied to the Feb. 3 arrest.

Bankston was booked on charges that include possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, hindering apprehension or prosecution, and unlawful use of a criminal instrument. Police said she was found in possession of narcotics at the time of detention.

Why the case is closely watched in South Texas

The arrest highlights a recurring enforcement issue along the Interstate 35 corridor and in border communities: vehicles stolen in larger inland cities are sometimes recovered in Laredo, a key international gateway that includes multiple ports of entry into Mexico. Law enforcement agencies in the region have described cross-jurisdiction coordination as central to locating and recovering stolen vehicles, particularly when theft reports originate outside Webb County.

Charges filed in the Zaragoza Street case

• Webb Buckner, 41: unauthorized use of a motor vehicle; unlawful use of a criminal instrument; failure to identify as a fugitive; and matters tied to an outstanding warrant and a weapons-related allegation.

• Brandy Bankston, 26: possession of a controlled substance; possession of marijuana; hindering apprehension or prosecution; unlawful use of a criminal instrument.

Under Texas law, an arrest and the filing of charges do not determine guilt. Cases proceed through the court system, where defendants maintain the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty.

As of the most recent publicly available booking updates reported at the time, both suspects had been booked into the Webb County Jail in connection with the Feb. 3 incident.