Update: Driver Arrested After High-Speed Chase In Northeast El Paso

Officials with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office said Marissa Martinez, 48, has been arrested and charged with aggravated assault against a public servant after she led a deputy on a high-speed chase, nearly backed into the deputy and crashed into an El Paso police cruiser.

It all happened just after 3:30 a.m. Sunday morning.

According to authorities, a sheriff’s deputy tried to stop Martinez, who was driving a 1989 Ford minivan, for a red light violation at the intersection of Woodrow Bean and Odessa Lane.

Martinez refused to stop and instead accelerated to speeds of about 80 mph, sheriff’s officials said.

At that point the deputy followed the van as Martinez continued east on Woodrow Bean turning northbound on Dyer Street, then drove into a private entrance leading to an apartment complex at 10095 McCombs Street, according to investigators.

After driving into the housing unit parking lot, officials said Martinez stopped the van, the sheriff’s deputy got out of his patrol unit and repeatedly told the driver to exit the van.

At that moment, Martinez put the van in reverse, quickly accelerated towards the deputy, authorities said. Fearing for his life, the deputy drew his weapon and fired multiple times towards the back of the van, but Martinez continued reversing, nearly hitting the deputy and his patrol unit, officials explained.

Investigators said Martinez maneuvered the van enough to get through and drive forward at a high rate of speed, then exited the parking lot through the private entrance and drove onto Fairbanks Drive turning south on Dyer Street.

Martinez continued southbound on Dyer Street and, according to authorities, violently crashed head-on with an El Paso police cruiser responding to assist the deputy.

Officials said after impact, the sheriff’s deputy and police officers pulled Martinez — who they said was highly intoxicated — out of the van and arrested her.

There were no injuries reported as a result of the entire incident. Officials said Martinez was not hit with any bullets when the deputy shot toward the van.

The shooting is being reviewed administratively by the sheriff’s office’s Internal Affairs Division.

Officials said the deputy involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of the investigation.

Dyer Street was closed for a number of hours while the scene was cleared.

Martinez’s bond was set at $20,000.