Police chase ends in crash, child abuse charges
An Albuquerque man driving a car with a woman and a 9-year-old girl inside nearly hit two pedestrians and sped the wrong way down a one-way Las Vegas street before crashing, according to police.
Raymond E. Archuleta, 50, of Albuquerque, who is also known as “Boo Boo,” was arrested and charged with two counts of felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, felony child abuse and felony aggravated fleeing law enforcement. He was also cited for several traffic violations, including driving while license revoked and leaving the scene of an accident.
According to a statement of probable cause filed in San Miguel Magistrate Court, on the evening of Nov. 16, Las Vegas Police attempted to serve court paperwork to a woman living in the 2800 block of Louden Drive, near Luis E. Armijo Elementary.
The man requesting the paperwork be served told police the woman was his ex-girlfriend and the mother of his 6-year-old daughter. He also told police that his ex-girlfriend was living with a new boyfriend who the man feared was using drugs around his daughter.
According to police, as officers approached the residence, they saw Archuleta get into a silver Nissan car and drive away, nearly hitting two people who were walking in the area.
LVPD officers pursued the Nissan with lights and sirens, and according to police, the Nissan ran several red lights and caused other vehicles to pull off the roadway to avoid being hit.
Officers placed stop sticks, devices that puncture tires, near the intersection of New Mexico Avenue and Grand Avenue, but before Archuleta reached the intersection, he changed course, eventually driving the wrong direction on Lincoln Avenue toward Grand. After crossing Grand, police say Archuleta crashed on Railroad Avenue, then fled on foot, running south along the railroad tracks.
Officers found the crashed car with damage to the front end and deployed air bags. They also found the woman and the 9-year-old girl inside. The girl was treated by medical technicians and released to the custody of her father. The woman was not arrested and is not facing charges.
Officers located Archuleta hiding inside a vehicle in a yard near the railroad tracks, but according to police, Archuleta ignored commands to show his hands and exit the vehicle. Officers then fired pepper balls at Archuleta before opening the door to the vehicle and dragging him to the ground to place handcuffs on him.
Medical technicians attempted to treat Archuleta, but according to police, he refused medical treatment. He was then transported to Alta Vista Regional Hospital for further evaluation, and to be medically cleared for incarceration. He was later booked into the San Miguel County Detention Center.
Archuleta has a lengthy criminal history, and has previously been sentenced as a habitual offender. At the time of his arrest, he had an active arrest warrant out of Bernalillo County for violating terms of probation following a June 3 incident when probation and parole officers found heroin in his Albuquerque home.
During a Nov. 18 hearing, Judge Melanie Rivera set a $10,000, cash-only bond for Archuleta.
Fourth Judicial District Attorney Richard Flores told the Optic that if Archuleta posts bond in San Miguel County, officials from Bernalillo County would then take him into custody and make arrangements to transport him to the Metropolitan Detention Center near Albuquerque. As of this writing, Archuleta was still in custody at SMCDC.
