Two Socorro narcotics officers and a State Police undercover officer were on patrol last Wednesday when they noticed a red Mustang following them.

They noticed the car behind them at every turn, even tried to let it pass, and when they pulled into a restaurant parking lot, the Mustang did, too, according to today's El Defensor Chieftain.

And when Sgt. Angel Garcia got out to meet the Mustang's driver, the man -- later identified as 27-year-old Carlos Tafoya of Socorro -- backed out and sped away, leading to a wild chase that ended with the man abandoning the vehicle and running into a field, the paper said.

When officers caught up, Tafoya refused to lie down on the ground and was Tasered, and, still struggling, decided to give up when officers promised another jolt of the Taser, El Defensor Chieftain reported.

It was only after an NCIC check that police discovered the Mustang had been stolen from Mescalero and that Tafoya was wanted in Otero County on drug trafficking and other charges, the paper said.

Tafoya now faces charges of aggravated assault, aggravated fleeing, possession of a stolen vehicle, reckless driving, driving on a suspended or revoked license, resisting or evading an officer, driving under the influence and possession of a controlled substance, according to El Defensor Chieftain.

He was arraigned last Thursday and was released from the Socorro County Detention Center after posting a $44,000 cash or surety bond on the local charges and a $20,000 bond for the Otero County warrant, the paper reported.

"When you're driving a stolen vehicle, maybe it's not a good idea to be chasing cops," Socorro Police Chief Lawrence Romero told El Defensor Chieftain. 

Your Name:

Your Email Address:

Rate this article:
Poor Great

Comment:

BOLD

"QUOTE"

UNDERLINE