Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
New Mexico State Police are seeking assistance from the public to locate a burglary suspect officers were unable to locate following a seven-hour search on April 4 by air and ground on U.S. Highway 54 near Logan.
Capt. Jimmy Glascock said on April 4 at 8 a.m., residents in Nara Visa reported a man later identified as John Michael Mitchell Jr., burglarizing the Nara Visa Truck Stop.
Glascock said the residents called 911 and described Mitchell and the 2005 Maroon Chevy Suburban he was driving.
Mitchell was traveling on U.S. Highway 54 when he encountered Logan police officers responding to the 911 call, said state police Lt. Lance Bateman.
Bateman said Mitchell led police in a pursuit on Highway 54 onto the Paula Shoenail Ranch, five miles northeast of Logan. He said the suspect abandoned the SUV and fled on foot.
Mitchell was not captured and the Suburban was towed to the Tucumcari State Police headquarters, where a search warrant was obtained to search the vehicle.
Bateman said on April 5, officers received a report that Mitchell had stolen a vehicle from the ranch where he had evaded law enforcement. He said the vehicle was located on Monday at an apartment complex in Amarillo.
Bateman said anyone with information about the whereabouts of Mitchell could call state police at 575-461-3300 or Crimestoppers at 575-461-3507.