A New Mexico man is suspected of leading police on a high-speed chase that ended with the driver fleeing on foot only to be captured the next day floating on an inner tube down an irrigation ditch north of Durango.
Also the next day, police said a bicyclist found a large package of methamphetamine – with an estimated street value of $40,000 – along the same stretch of road as the chase.
Investigators are unsure if the two incidents are related. They said they have two separate investigations under way, but are considering the possibility the cases are linked.
“That’s still under investigation,” said Pat Downs, director of the Southwest Drug Task Force. “We haven’t been able to establish a connection one way or another.”
Police arrested Max Andrew Nicely, 37, of Rio Rancho, N.M., on suspicion of driving under restraint, resisting arrest and vehicular eluding. He is free on $5,000 bail.
The chase started about 1:40 a.m. Friday in the 3000 block of Florida Road (County Road 240) about two miles northeast of city limits.
According to an arrest affidavit, Nicely was driving west toward town going 33 mph in a posted 45 mph zone.
A La Plata County Sheriff’s Office deputy tried to run the license plate number, but it came back with no record. It was later learned that Nicely borrowed the silver Dodge Charger and switched the license plate, according to the affidavit.
As the vehicle approached city limits and the speed limit dropped to 35 mph, the driver increased his speed to 45 mph, according to the affidavit.
The deputy activated his emergency lights, but the driver didn’t slow down or pull over. The deputy activated his siren and shined a spotlight at the vehicle.
Nicely turned right onto East Animas Road (County Road 250) and headed north at speeds in excess of 80 mph, the affidavit says. The road has a 45 mph speed limit.
At one point, in the 3100 block of East Animas Road, Nicely slowed to about 25 mph, turned off his lights and swerved as the deputy tried to pull up beside him.
Nicely then punched the gas pedal and continued at a high rate of speed until turning right onto Missionary Ridge Road (County Road 253), which is a gravel road and has several hairpin-type turns. He drove in excess of 45 mph on the 25 mph road.
Nicely turned onto a side road that accesses trailheads about 3 miles up the road. He high-centered the car on a pile of dirt and rocks.
He and a passenger exited the car.
The deputy identified himself and ordered the men to stay put. But Nicely ran into the woods, saying he didn’t want to go back to prison, according to the affidavit.
The passenger, Wilson Aguilar, 39, stayed by the car as instructed. He said he was along for the ride.
Nicely was spotted about 1 p.m. Saturday floating down the irrigation ditch that runs along much of East Animas Road. He was apparently making his way back to town, said sheriff’s spokesman Dan Bender.
He admitted to driving the car and refusing to stop for the deputy, according to the affidavit.
The package of meth was found about 8 a.m. Saturday by a bicyclist in the 1300 block of East Animas Road, about a mile north of city limits.
It was in a black nylon case and contained 250 grams, or 9 to 10 ounces, of high-quality meth, Downs said. It contained four or five baggies each about the size of a fist, he said.
“It is a large amount for our area,” he said. “It is a large amount, but it certainly is not the largest amount we’ve seen or seized.”
Anyone with information about the meth is asked to call Crimestoppers at 247-1112.
shane@durangoherald.com
