A Durango man has been arrested on suspicion of trying to steal a truck with a child inside earlier this week at a local gas station.
Louie Leonardo Albo, 34, is being held at the La Plata County Jail on suspicion of attempted kidnapping, attempted motor vehicle theft and felony trespass.
The incident occurred about 4:10 p.m. Tuesday at Exxon Tempo Mini Mart, 20800 U.S. Highway 160, in west Durango.
According to police, the owner of a black 2016 Dodge pickup went into the service station to purchase a drink for his 6-year-old child. He shut off the truck and left the child restrained inside the vehicle. He also left his keys in the truck.
Albo entered the vehicle and started it, according to police, which viewed surveillance video of the incident. Albo observed the child inside the truck and told the child, “Everything will be all right,” according to a news release issued Thursday.
Albo was attempting to get the vehicle into gear when the owner came out of the store and confronted him. The father physically removed Albo from the truck, and Albo fled, according to the release. Officers were unable to locate the man.
But police received a second call about 8:35 p.m. Tuesday at Westwood Apartments along the same stretch of highway. In that case, the owner of a red 2015 Chevrolet Silverado pickup walked into the parking lot preparing to leave when he noticed someone seated inside the vehicle. The man fled, but officers arrested him a short time later.
Police identified the man as Albo, and he matched the man seen on video surveillance earlier that day at the gas station, police said.
Police are uncertain of Albo’s motive.
“He was fighting with police on the second go around, so I don’t think they even interviewed him,” said Lt. Ray Shupe, with the Durango Police Department.
shane@durangoherald.com
