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Roosevelt County – On Sunday, April 7, 2013, at approximately 1:53 a.m., the New Mexico State Police was notified of a high speed vehicle pursuit in Texas, which was entering New Mexico.
The Texas Highway Patrol advised that earlier, the Canyon Police Department measured the vehicle’s speed by radar at 120 miles per hour, TX authorities attempted to stop the vehicle; but lost sight of the vehicle near Umbarger, TX. The vehicle was described as at white 1999 Nissan four door sedan.
A short time later, the vehicle passed a Texas Highway Patrol trooper on US 60 near Hereford, TX, at 118 miles per hour, resulting with the trooper engaging in the pursuit of the vehicle. As the chase continued, officers from Bovina, Farwell, and Parmer County Sheriff’s Department discontinued in the pursuit.
The pursuit entered New Mexico on State Road 202 in northeastern Roosevelt County. The New Mexico State Police deployed stop sticks (tire deflation device), striking three of the four tires. State Police utilize a trained method when deploying stop sticks. The Nissan continued a short distance and came to a stop near mile marker two on State Road 202 (two miles from the US 70 junction).
The driver, Christopher Sharp and passenger Toni Rodriguez were taken into custody without further incident. Sharp was charged with Aggravated Fleeing a Law Enforcement Officer. Rodriguez was charged with Accessory to Aggravated Fleeing a Law Enforcement Officer. Both were booked into the Roosevelt County Detention Center.
Charges are also pending by the Texas authorities.
Had it not been for the skilled training of the deployment of stop sticks by State Police, this pursuit could have ended in dire consequences. The fleeing felons may have escaped, or an innocent NM motorist could’ve been struck, being severely injured or killed.
Christopher Sharp
Toni Rodriguez
