A fight that began at the Ohkay Express Mart on North Riverside Drive Monday turned into a police chase that left Rio Arriba County Sheriff’s deputy James Lujan with what could be a totaled cruiser and some soreness.
“I’m at the doctor right now,” Lujan said Tuesday. “My shoulder’s all jacked up and my neck.”
After the Fairview Lane crash, Lujan got out of his smashed cruiser and joined Española Police officers in chasing down and arresting 29-year-old Steven Trujillo, who was being held Tuesday in Rio Arriba County Jail on felony charges of aggravated battery on a peace officer, two counts of aggravated fleeing of a law enforcement officer and misdemeanor counts of reckless driving and disorderly conduct, Española Police Lt. Christian Lopez said.
Lopez said he suspects alcohol could be a factor in the crash and officers got a warrant to draw blood draw from Trujillo, who was transported to Española Hospital along with his passenger, Rudy Sandoval, 35. Both men were treated and released from the hospital.
Lopez said Trujillo could face additional charges if the tests show he was intoxicated during the crash.
The fight that sparked the chase was reported at 3:53 p.m., Española 911 Center call logs state. Following that report, Lopez said Española officers were asked to assist in a pursuit by Ohkay Owingeh Tribal Police. Trujillo, the suspect who was reportedly panhandling and harassing people, got into a 1997 Nissan and drove away. Española Sgt. Richard Gallegos approved a pursuit.
Lopez said Trujillo drove his Nissan first onto El Llano Road, then south on McCurdy Road, following it to the end where it intersects with State Road 76 and El Llano Road. The car then turned left back onto El Llano, and later turned left again onto Fairview Lane.
Meanwhile, Lujan stopped his cruiser in front of the former Ziegler Insurance compound where he intended to set up stop sticks to stop the Nissan, Lopez said. The Nissan was driving toward Lujan in the wrong lane of traffic, so Lujan tried to accelerate his cruiser out of the car’s way, but the car changed lanes again and collided with Lujan’s passenger side door, spinning the cruiser around in the street.
After the crash, Trujillo got out of his car and ran, Lopez said. Lujan and Española officers chased him and arrested Trujillo a short distance away.
Lopez said he did not think Lujan was wearing a seat belt because he was about to get out of his cruiser before seeing the car heading his way. Lopez said Lujan had a bruise on his face following the crash.
Lopez said Gallegos called off the chase, which reached speeds of 60 mph, after the car turned onto Fairview Lane because officers learned Trujillo was accused of getting into a verbal fight, not a physical one.
“It wasn’t a violent crime,” Lopez said.
Lujan said X-rays showed no broken bones. His cruiser, however, fared worse. Lopez said the Nissan struck the area between Lujan’s front and rear passenger doors which could have damaged the cruiser’s frame. Lujan said per Sheriff’s Department policy he had to take a breath test and urinalysis following the crash. He said Tuesday the breath test came back clean and the other test was pending. Sheriff Tommy Rodella did not return calls seeking comment.
Trujillo was previously cited by Sheriff’s deputy Anthony Armijo May 12 for allegedly driving with a suspended or revoked license, according to an online court records database. That case was still pending in Rio Arriba County Magistrate Court.