A 36-year-old man reportedly wanted for aggravated murder in OH has been arrested and charged in the shooting death of a New Mexico police officer after a routine traffic stop, according to the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Department.
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The fallen officer is a two-year veteran of the Hatch Police Department.
“During the traffic stop, a passenger who was in that vehicle reportedly exited the vehicle and fired shots at the officer”, Jameson said, adding that another officer had witnessed the shooting and called “on the radio that we had an officer down”.
Police departments throughout the county joined the manhunt for the three suspects, setting up checkpoints around the interstate and N.M. 185.
The owner of that vehicle was shot and wounded.
Meanwhile, deputies tracked down the other two suspects in Rincon after being alerted by a passerby of two men “acting suspicious” in the area, the sheriff’s spokeswoman said.
Nelson II and Jesse Hanes are wanted in Ohio in connection to the July shooting death of 62-year-old Londonderry, Ohio, resident, Theodore Timmons, the Chillicothe Gazette reported.
It isn’t immediately clear which police department is handling the chase, but ABC-7 has learned officers are closing exits along I-25.
Police officers and state employees prevent drivers from entering Hatch, N.M., after a shooting on Friday, Aug. 12, 2016.
In the auto with Hanes was 36-year-old James Nelson, who is also wanted in OH on suspicion of murder.
Deputies spotted the stolen vehicle nearby.
Deputies were able to stop Hanes by deflating his tires.
The assisting officer said Chavez was holding paperwork, but appeared to also be reaching for his service weapon.
The driver was taken into custody at around 5 p.m. That man has not been identified but is in stable condition at an El Paso, Texas, hospital and could be released Saturday, Jameson said.
Officers stopped the vehicle by popping its tires using “stop sticks” and arrested the driver, who was suffering from a bullet wound to the thigh. Three suspects are in custody.
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“Officer Chavez’s death underscores once again the real dangers that are routinely faced by those who protect and serve their fellow citizens, and reminds us that we are deeply indebted to our law enforcement officers for placing their lives on the line each and every day in order to preserve public safety”, he said in a statement. “I don’t know when the last time Hatch experienced an incident of this nature”.
