Man accused of car theft, fleeing police

An Albuquerque man was detained last week after being accused of stealing a vehicle from a Logan store and trying to flee from Tucumcari police and other law enforcement personnel.

Damien Robles, 23, was charged with receiving or transferring stolen vehicle or motor vehicle (first offense), aggravated fleeing a law enforcement officer, tampering with evidence (third- or fourth-degree felony) and injuring or tampering with a vehicle (scratching or damaging).

Three of the charges are fourth-degree felonies, which can lead up to 18 months in prison or a $5,000 fine.

According to a criminal complaint filed by Quay County sheriff’s deputy Tyler Davis, he was assisting Logan police on May 23 in finding a 2016 white Buick stolen from a Family Dollar store in Logan when Tucumcari Police officer Steven Chaney began a vehicle pursuit of a similar-looking Buick.

According to a filing by the district attorney’s office, Chaney followed the vehicle from U.S. 54 through Tucumcari streets “in excess of the speed limit where other drivers had to take defensive measure to avoid a crash.”

Chaney kept the Buick in sight until his supervisor ordered him to end the pursuit.

Davis informed New Mexico State Police the vehicle was last seen at Exit 329 going west on Interstate 40.

A state police officer reported a vehicle fitting the description had left I-40 at Exit 321 and took a frontage road. Davis said he took the Montoya exit off I-40 and drove east.

Davis said he saw a Buick matching the description and stopped it on the frontage road. He ordered the driver, later identified as Robles, out of the vehicle onto his stomach and handcuffed him.

The vehicle’s owners told officers Robles had removed a rearview mirror from the windshield, causing a crack and chunks of glass to be missing.

Magistrate Judge Noreen Hendrickson found probable cause for the charges against Robles.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Heidi Adams on Thursday filed an expedited motion for pretrial detention for Robles, citing a criminal history that included aggravated assault on a peace officer, battery on a peace officer, disarming a peace officer and violation of a restraining order. Adams also stated Robles was a danger to the community and a flight risk.

Robles’ case was transferred to district court on Friday. A preliminary hearing and hearing on the pretrial detention motion is set for June 2.

Randy Chavez of Albuquerque is listed in court records as Robles’ public defender.