Complaint: Couple arrested after shooting at State Police officer hijacked another vehicle

A man and woman accused of shooting at a New Mexico State Police officer and fleeing from law enforcement for two days were found hiding in a shed in Fort Sumner.

Makaela Johnson, 26, and Jovan Martinez, 40, are charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, aggravated assault on a peace officer, harboring a felon and an assortment of other charges. They were arrested Wednesday afternoon.

New Mexico State Police conducted a traffic stop Monday afternoon on a vehicle on U.S. 285, south of Vaughn, after learning the vehicle was reportedly stolen, according to a news release from Wilson Silver, spokesperson for State Police.

A sergeant stopped the vehicle and placed Johnson in handcuffs when Martinez exited the stolen vehicle with a rifle and fired at the officer, according to an arrest affidavit filed in Santa Rosa Magistrate Court.

"What began as a traffic stop on a reported stolen vehicle quickly escalated into a violent encounter," said State Police Chief Troy Weisler in a video posted Wednesday evening on Facebook.

"Johnson ran back to the stolen vehicle while still handcuffed and entered the passenger seat as the sergeant took cover behind his police unit and returned fire with his duty weapon," Silver said in the release. 

The sergeant fired "at least one shot back at the suspect," according to the affidavit. Police later identified multiple casings in the area that did not belong to the sergeant. 

He was not injured during the shooting and has since been placed on administrative leave, which is standard after police shootings.

Martinez and Johnson fled from the scene and police lost sight of the vehicle, Silver said. The vehicle was later located near the intersection of U.S. 285 and N.M. 247.

"The vehicle left the roadway and drove through two barbed wire fences before coming to rest in an open field," Silver said.

While responding, State Police encountered a couple who told officers their vehicle had been stolen at gunpoint by Martinez and Johnson, the affidavit states. 

The couple told police Martinez had fired at least one shot into the ground to force the owners to stop and exit their car, according to the affidavit. The second stolen vehicle was found abandoned east of the intersection of River Road and Lone Wolf Road, south of Fort Sumner. 

Two days later, Martinez and Johnson were found hiding inside a shed in Fort Sumner, Silver said.

"Let me be clear, if you attempt to harm one of our officers or any members of our community, we will pursue you relentlessly," Weisler said. "Today is evidence of that."