Durango Police initiated a pursuit late Friday night after a routine traffic stop turned into a multi-agency chase that led authorities across the state line and into New Mexico among a maze of gas and oil field roads.
But according to San Juan County (New Mexico) Sheriff Sgt. Dave McCall, the incident did not warrant a continued pursuit from New Mexico.
“According to our pursuit policy, we have pretty strict guidelines as to when we can join or take over a pursuit,” he said. “It has to be a violent crime or something that is a clear and present danger to the public that can be observed.”
After the initial traffic stop, the driver was believed to have a warrant for failure to appear in court on a DUI charge.
“It did not meet our criteria for a pursuit,” McCall said. “We’d be happy to set up (devices to flatten tires) to support them, but SJCS was not going to actively engage in the pursuit.”
As of 2:30 p.m. Saturday, the suspect was not in custody.
The pursuit began at about 9:35 p.m. Friday on Colorado Highway 3.
Cpl. Nick Stasi of the Durango Police Department said while speeds were relatively mild, the chase quickly gained support from Colorado State Patrol.
Several cars were behind the suspect as he headed south on La Posta Road (County Road 213) at speeds reaching 60 mph. The chase turned south near Weaselskin Bridge at 9:45 p.m.
Shortly before 10 p.m., the pursuit apparently moved onto oilfield roads, and law enforcement slowed down for safety purposes. Officers requested a helicopter from New Mexico for assistance – it was beginning to rain – but in accordance with the county’s pursuit criteria, a helicopter was not justified.
“We lost track of it somewhere down in New Mexico,” Stasi said.
They believed the driver was heading back to New Mexico, which is where the car is licensed.
At about 10:30 p.m., authorities received information that the driver’s address was in Flora Vista, New Mexico, and he might have a gun in the vehicle.
Social media played a part in the search. Law enforcement accessed the suspect’s Facebook page and found photos indicating he was familiar with the oil fields and often goes jeeping in the area.
abutler@durangoherald.com
