Two still jailed after standoff

Two suspects from Colorado remained in the county jail after they were accused last week of crashing a car in Tucumcari after a high-speed police chase and shooting at officers as they approached to give first aid. The duo surrendered to police after a two-hour standoff in the upside-down car.

Scott Andrew Sherbondy, 36, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, remained jailed in the Quay County Detention Center on complaints of first-degree kidnapping, three counts of aggravated assault upon a peace officer with a deadly weapon, conspiracy, aggravated fleeing a law-enforcement officer, shooting at or from a motor vehicle and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Brandy Campbell, 37, also of Colorado Springs, also remained in the county lockup on three counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer with a deadly weapon, conspiracy, aggravated fleeing of a law-enforcement officer and shooting at or from a motor vehicle.

Tucumcari Magistrate Judge Timothy O'Quinn found probable cause for both suspects Wednesday morning and ordered them held without bond. The cases were transferred to Tucumcari District Court the same dayy with the same no-bond hold. Anna Aragon was appointed as a defense lawyer for Campbell; Michael Aragon was appointed for Sherbondy.

Sherbondy's kidnapping count is a first-degree felony that can lead up to 18 years in prison and up to a $15,000 fine. The other counts against the two are third- or fourth-degree felonies. A third-degree felony can lead up to three years in prison and up to a $5,000 fine. A fourth-degree felony can lead up to 18 months in prison and up to a $5,000 fine.

According to online records, Sherbondy was convicted of second-degree sexual assault in 1999 and is a registered sex offender in Colorado.

New Mexico State Police Sgt. Andrew Martinez filed the complaints Wednesday in Tucumcari Magistrate Court. Many of the descriptions of the case came from the filings; excerpts are lightly edited for clarity.

Quay County sheriff's deputies received a report of Sherbondy being wanted by Colorado authorities for escaping from parole. He was described as being in a white 2013 Volvo S60 car with Colorado plates.

Deputy Christopher Valdez located the vehicle May 14 on Interstate 40 in eastern Quay County, identified one of the subjects inside as Sherbondy and began the pursuit. Valdez tried to conduct a traffic stop, but the driver refused to stop. The westbound vehicle took exit 332 off I-40 in Tucumcari, traveled north on First Street, stayed on the Highway 104 overpass and continued north on Second Street.

"The vehicle then gained speed, fleeing at approximately ninety (90) miles per hour through busy intersections and red stop lights, almost causing a collision with passing motorists. While the vehicle was attempting to escape, pedestrians were seen on Deputy Valdez's dash camera, walking on the sidewalk," Martinez wrote.

The driver tried to make a left turn at a high speed onto Maple Avenue and suddenly stopped, causing Valdez's vehicle to crash into the rear of the Volvo. That led to the Volvo overturning and crashing in a yard in the 800 block of North Second Street.

"Deputy Valdez told (Martinez) shortly after the crash he heard a loud 'bang,' which he believed to be a single gunshot," Martinez wrote. "Deputy Valdez later told me the two occupants remained inside of the vehicle after it crashed. Deputy Valdez (said) he learned the male occupant had a firearm in his possession. No one was struck by gunfire, nor (did) law enforcement return fire during this incident."

Sheriff Russell Shafer said the officers didn't return fire for fear of possibly hitting an innocent person in the car.

"They heard the gunshot, but they knew there was a second person in there; that's why they didn't fire back," he said. "They did receive one gunshot, but they didn't know which direction it went. They took cover and held the scene until we could all arrive on it."

The two stayed in the wrecked vehicle and refused to exit for about two hours. According to Martinez's report, Sherbondy was holding Campbell as a hostage.

Shafer said a Tucumcari officer negotiated with the suspects in the car during the standoff. At one point, the officer persuaded them to allow deputy Larry Cooksey to give them bottles of water amid temperatures that approached 90 degrees.

Officers kept bystanders and an awaiting ambulance at least a block away from the crash; other officers stood behind their vehicles and pointed their rifles and handguns at the wrecked car.

Authorities blocked parts of Highway 104 and Maple Avenue. At least 15 police vehicles were parked around the perimeter of the scene.

After more negotiations, both left the car and surrendered without incident. The suspects were taken to Trigg Memorial Hospital in Tucumcari for treatment of minor injuries.

"Praise the Lord it ended with minimal injuries," Shafer said. "There was more damage done to vehicles. We did lose one sheriff's unit that's out of commission due to this."

With the scene secure, Martinez said he saw a Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum revolver on the Volvo's rear passenger side door. The New Mexico State Police Crime Scene Team later found a spent casing in the revolver and found the exit point of a bullet through the car's front windshield.

Martinez later interviewed Sherbondy at the state police office in Tucumcari. Sherbondy said he and Campbell were traveling together outside of Colorado because both were wanted for parole violations. Sherbondy said he had cut off his electronic monitoring ankle bracelet and did not want to go back to prison.

Sherbondy said as the deputy attempted a traffic stop on I-40, Campbell told him to grab the firearm and fire back at law enforcement so they could escape.

"After they crashed, Mr. Sherbondy said he refused to exit the vehicle because he wanted to kill himself with the firearm because he did not want to go back to prison," Martinez wrote. "Mr. Sherbondy said after they crashed, Ms. Campbell gave him the firearm which he admitted to having in his possession. Mr. Campbell said he is a convicted felon and knew he should not have a firearm but did not care."

Sherbondy said when they still were in the upside-down vehicle, he said police broke the windows to the vehicle to help them exit it and heard what he believed to be a gunshot. Sherbondy said he didn't fire the gun and didn't know whether Campbell did.

State police interviewed three law-enforcement officers - deputies Valdez and Rudy Vallejo and Tucumcari police officer Abel Cullum - who said they were outside the vehicle after the crash when they heard a gunshot.

"(They) stated they feared for their lives after they hard the gunshot from within the vehicle while they attempted to render aid," Martinez wrote.

Martinez interviewed Campbell, who said she was forced to transport Sherbondy "under duress because he told her he would shoot her." She also said she fled from police because Sherbondy told her not to stop or her would shoot her.

"Ms. Campbell said after they crashed, Mr. (Sherbondy) put the firearm against her back and told her he would shoot her," Martinez wrote. "Ms. Campbell said she grabbed the firearm when he put it down and threw it out the window before they were both arrested without further incident."