Suspect accused of ramming FBI agents, dumping thousands of fentanyl pills during wild car chase

A daring chase involving two carloads of FBI agents on Albuquerque’s West Side turned even more dangerous when the fleeing suspect allegedly dumped an estimated 10,000 loose blue fentanyl pills onto the roadway and kept driving.

A SWAT team leader with the FBI finally had to call off the pursuit near Central and Atrisco NW on July 18 because it was too dangerous, according to a criminal complaint. Agents quickly blocked off a street to secure the loose fentanyl, which had exploded from a cardboard Corona beer box when it hit the pavement.

Nicholas “Youngster” Mares, 22, ultimately was arrested on July 25, and is being held in federal custody until trial, a U.S. Magistrate Judge Laura Fashing ordered on Monday. Mares is charged with distribution of 400 grams and more of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute, and assault on a federal officer.

After making an undercover buy of 5,000 fentanyl pills from Mares on May 28, FBI agents with the Violent Gang Task Force in Albuquerque set out July 18 with the intent of arresting Mares. That time the fentanyl was in a shoe box.

The complaint states agents that afternoon saw him leave a residence on Atrisco Vista SW and put a “case of Corona beer” into a Toyota Camry. A short time later, a child got into the back seat, and Mares and his girlfriend got into the car and drove away. The agents followed him to parking lot near Coors Boulevard and Central Avenue, and it appeared he was waiting to meet someone.

Then agents saw him staring at the FBI surveillance vehicles and agents multiple times before he left the parking lot and drove east on Central, eventually pulling over on Yucca Street NW near Central.

FBI SWAT agents approached the Camry in two black FBI Ford Expeditions that were equipped with large emergency “push” bumpers and several red, blue and white emergency lights. Inside the two vehicles were a total of eight SWAT agents in full uniform, including vests and helmets bearing the FBI insignia.

“While the Expeditions were not marked with law enforcement decals, the motoring public readily identify them as police vehicles, as evidenced by the fact that the motorists moved out of the way of the vehicles,” which is typical of motorists when they observe such vehicles in the road, the complaint states.

As Mares turned onto Central Avenue, one FBI vehicle positioned itself in front of his Camry as the second Expedition fell in behind the Camry. Both activated the emergency lights and attempted a “physical vehicle interdiction” of Mares’s vehicle, the complaint states.

The front FBI Expedition slowed as a traffic light cycled to red, and the second moved to the rear of the Camry, which made a quick lane change. Both FBI vehicles followed him, still in position. Mares made another lane change, with the Expeditions going along, one in front and one behind.

“Mares then accelerated and smashed into the rear end of the front Expedition, which was occupied by four federal special \\agents,” the complaint states.

The impact ripped off the rear bumper of the Expedition in front. Meanwhile, the trailing Expedition struck the Camry from behind to try to disable it. But Mares took off and fled at a high rate of speed, with the child still inside the car.

After striking the agents’ SUV, he allegedly drove on the wrong side of Central Ave. into oncoming traffic, then drove through a red light as he turned north on Atrisco NW. By that time, Mares’ vehicle bumpers were falling off. His car’s hood was bent up, which appeared to obstruct his view.

Still in pursuit, the agents noticed a beer box on the street between 49th Street NW and 47th Street NW, which appeared to be the same container Mares was seen placing into the Camry earlier. The thousands of blue pills were strewn hundreds of feet on and off the road, the complaint states.

The chase continued as Mares drove at a high rate of speed, passing cars in oncoming traffic and on the shoulder.

“Based on the fact that agents knew the driver to be Mares, he had discarded his drug contraband, a child was in the vehicle, and Mares was driving so erratically, the SWAT team leader told all units to discontinue following” him and return to the roadway to recover the blue pills as evidence. Agents had to block off Atrisco to do so.