Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
An Albuquerque man remained detained in the Quay County jail this week after he was accused of leading police on a chase at speeds of up to 100 mph, crashed his car into a building in Tucumcari and later was found hiding in its attic.
Anthony Vernone Lee Martinez, 22, was charged with aggravated fleeing law enforcement, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, criminal damage to property of over $1,000, criminal trespassing and resisting, evading or obstructing an officer.
Three of the charges are fourth-degree felonies that can lead up to 18 months in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
According to a probable-cause statement filed Friday in magistrate court by Tucumcari police officer Justin Garcia, he was staking out a motel room Wednesday afternoon in the 1200 block of East Tucumcari Boulevard while another officer was preparing a search warrant for its tenant, Martinez, who had an active arrest warrant against him.
Garcia said Martinez saw his police cruiser, entered a Hyundai car without a license plate or temporary tag and drove east on Tucumcari Boulevard. Garcia stated he turned on his vehicle's emergency lights, but Martinez refused to pull over.
Garcia said Martinez ran a red light at Tucumcari Boulevard and U.S. 54 and went north on the highway. He said Martinez’s speed was about 60 mph as he weaved around other vehicles. Garcia said Martinez’s speed about five miles northeast of Tucumcari reached about 100 mph.
The Hyundai turned right onto Quay Road AI at a high speed, then turned west onto Interstate 40, again reaching speeds of about 100 mph.
Martinez’s car took Exit 336 onto Tucumcari Boulevard, cutting off another vehicle and nearly losing control of his car. Quay County Sheriff’s Lt. Larry Cooksey, parked on the center median of Tucumcari Boulevard, tried to use stop sticks to disable Martinez’s vehicle. The Hyundai swerved left around Cooksey’s car, going on the wrong side of the road.
Martinez continued on the wrong side of the road as he crossed the U.S. 54. He nearly struck a vehicle at First Street while continuing west on Tucumcari Boulevard.
The Hyundai turned right onto Ninth Street. Martinez then jumped out of the vehicle to flee, causing the car to crash into a building, leaving a hole in the wall and severely damaging a pillar.
The building’s owner soon arrived at the scene, and officers and a police dog were let into the building. They made contact with Martinez in the attic and arrested him. He was booked into the Quay County Detention Center.
Chief deputy district attorney Thomas Blakeney filed a request Friday for an extended detention before trial, stating Martinez was “a danger to the community.”
In addition to citing the high-speed chase, Blakeney stated Martinez was a registered sex offender in Kansas. He stated Martinez previously fled from a police officer and was convicted of aggravated assault against an officer and charged with aggravated kidnapping in Kansas.
“The Defendant’s History is clear that if he is released, he will likely continue not to follow court orders,” Blakeney wrote. “Additionally, there is a high likelihood the Defendant would flee and further endanger the public if released, and flee to another jurisdiction.”
Martinez was scheduled to be arraigned in Tucumcari magistrate court Tuesday afternoon. No attorney was listed for him in online court records.