Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
New Mexico State Police in Quay County recently captured a fugitive from Kentucky who led officers on a high-speed chase, then a foot pursuit after his vehicle crashed.
According to news release last week, a state police officer on Sept. 29 was patrolling U.S. 54 northeast of Tucumcari when he pulled over a Dodge Durango for a traffic violation.
During the stop, the officer identified the driver as Brandon Gwynn, 36, of Louisville, Kentucky. After a driver’s license check through the National Crime Information Center database, the officer learned Gwynn had a Kentucky arrest warrant for a probation violation on charges of burglary, possession of a controlled substance, tampering with evidence and trafficking marijuana.
When the officer began to arrest Gwynn while standing next to the officer’s patrol car, Gwynn ran back to his vehicle and sped away.
A pursuit ensued, reaching speeds of more than 130 mph. The officer experienced mechanical issues with his patrol unit, and the pursuit was discontinued.
About 20 minutes later, officers were sent to a single-vehicle crash on Highway 93 at milepost 1 near Endee. When officers arrived, they found it to be the same Dodge Durango that Gwynn had driven. The vehicle had been abandoned, and Gwynn was not at the scene.
Officers seized the vehicle and executed a search warrant on it, where they found about 10 ounces of suspected cocaine.
Officers later found Gwynn walking on Quay Road M. After a short foot pursuit, Gwynn was taken into custody.
Gwynn was booked into the Quay County Detention Center for aggravated fleeing of a law enforcement officer, leaving the scene of a crash, resisting, evading or obstructing an officer and felony possession of a controlled substance.
This case is being investigated by state police.