Man Who Led Cruces Police On Chase In Custody

LAS CRUCES (AP) — The man who led police on an automobile chase from I-25 to Lohman Avenue was captured and arrested Monday afternoon at the Furr’s cafeteria on Griggs Street.

Albert Perez, 20, whose address is listed as 212 Rosedale Circle in Belen, N.M., was located shortly before 5 p.m. Monday at the restaurant, located just north of the Wal-Mart Supercenter on Walton Drive. Las Cruces Police searched Wal-Mart for the suspect but, after viewing video surveillance video, they said they discovered that he had already left the building wearing a new shirt he had taken from the store.

Perez is charged with receiving or transferring a stolen vehicle, aggravated fleeing from an officer and larceny from a building. His bond was set at $50,000 cash.

Police learned that the 2006 Ford F150 Perez was driving was reported stolen from a Wal-Mart parking lot in Albuquerque. At around 2:50 p.m. another driver on I-25 noticed the vehicle driving erratically near the Radium Springs exit and alerted police to it. Las Cruces Police caught up to the truck on I-25 near the Spruce Street overpass, but they saidPerez refused to stop for officers.

Perez then led police to Lohman Avenue where he exited the vehicle and ran toward Wal-Mart, police said.