NMSP News:
SIERRA COUNTY – At approximately 10:45 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, New Mexico State Police (NMSP) officers were requested by the United States Border Patrol for assistance in apprehending a male subject driving a black passenger car that had fled from the U.S Border Patrol checkpoint on Interstate 25 near milepost 26 north of Las Cruces.
In an attempt to safely stop the fleeing vehicle, a NMSP officer and a Sierra County Sheriff’s deputy deployed a tire deflation device near milepost 68 on I-25. The male driver, identified as Armando Almaraz Jr., 25, of Las Cruces, drove his vehicle over the tire deflation devices but continued to flee north on I-25.
During the pursuit, NMSP Police Ofc. Mike Jones utilized a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT) maneuver in an attempt to bring Almaraz’s vehicle to a safe stop on I-25 near milepost 72.
Following the PIT maneuver, Almaraz’s vehicle came to a stop behind Officer Jones’s vehicle. Ofc. Jones exited his vehicle and observed Almaraz driving toward him. He heard Almaraz accelerate his vehicle as he traveled in his direction.
Ofc. Jones fired his duty rifle toward Almaraz striking him. As Ofc. Jones was shooting, Almaraz swerved around him and crashed on the east side of I-25.
Ofc. Jones and other officers gave Almaraz verbal commands to exit the vehicle and Almaraz surrendered peacefully. Almaraz was taken into custody without further incident.
Officers rendered emergency aid to Almaraz, and he was transported to a hospital in El Paso, Texas. Upon his release from the hospital, Almaraz was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center.
After the incident, officers learned Almaraz had two outstanding felony warrants for his arrest for the charges of Non-Residential Burglary (Forced Entry) and Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. Almaraz was wanted for burglary of a gun shop in Las Cruces, in which 27 firearms were stolen. Numerous firearms were located in his vehicle at the time of arrest.
The New Mexico State Police charged Almaraz with the following:
- Aggravated Battery on a Peace Officer with a Deadly Weapon (Felony)
- Possession of a Firearm by a Felon (Felony)
- Receipt of Stolen Property (Felony)
- Resisting, Evading or Obstructing an Officer (Felony)
- Failure to register vehicle (Misdemeanor)
- Roadways laned for traffic (Misdemeanor)
Ofc. Jones was placed on standard administrative leave. He has been with the New Mexico State Police for approximately 2 years. Upon completion of the State Police investigation, this case will be forwarded to an assigned district attorney’s office for review.
