Police identify pair arrested after Lower Valley chase ends in fiery crash, evacuations

UPDATE: El Paso police on Friday identified two men arrested after their fleeing car crashed the day prior into a gas meter in a residential Lower Valley neighborhood, igniting a fire that triggered evacuations of nearby residents.

Authorities said they were chasing the car because it contained 19–year-old Isahi Villalba, who was wanted for aggravated robbery. He was arrested following the crash along with the car's driver, 24–year-old Abel Villalba.

Police did not indicate the relationship between the two Viilalbas.

Isahi Villalba was being held on $150,000 bond in the downtown jail on charges of robbery, evading arrest and drug possession.

Abel Villalba was being held in the jail on $18,000 bond and was charged with a parole violation in addition to evading arrest.

ORIGINAL REPORT: EL PASO, Texas -- A car being chased by police and federal marshals crashed into a gas meter, damaging a line and triggering a fire in a residential neighborhood Thursday morning that briefly prompted evacuations.

It happened along Auburn Avenue near the intersection with S. Awbrey Street in El Paso's Lower Valley around 10:45 a.m. The neighborhood is off Delta Drive by Ascarate Park.

Firefighters were able to contain the fire and secure the gas line within about a half-hour; it wasn't immediately known how many residents had been evacuated.

No injuries were reported, a fire spokesman said.

Authorities said the motorist being chased by El Paso police gang unit officers and U.S. Marshals was wanted for aggravated robbery; he was arrested following the crash.

The chase began after police attempted a traffic stop of the vehicle containing the wanted man, but he fled, authorities said. His name was not released.