Man charged for leading police on high-speed chase from Vegas to Watrous
An Albuquerque man arrested Thanksgiving night is accused of leading police on a high-speed chase through the streets of Las Vegas.
Benjamin Hinojos, 39, was taken into custody Nov. 25 after a lengthy chase that began in Las Vegas and ended some 20 miles north in Watrous.
An officer with New Mexico State Police first attempted to stop Hinojos on Seventh Street just before 11 p.m. on Thanksgiving night, according to a criminal complaint filed in San Miguel Magistrate Court.
Police allege Hinojos was driving 52 mph in a 40 mph zone. When the officer initiated a traffic stop, Hinojos refused to stop, police allege, and instead continued south on Seventh before turning onto westbound Mills Avenue.
Police followed him onto Mills, with Hinojos reaching speeds of 80 mph, according to the complaint. Hinojos then turned onto southbound Hot Springs Boulevard, blowing through a red light.
Hinojos turned off Hot Springs onto westbound Moreno Street before driving down several “back roads,” according to the complaint. When Hinojos turned east onto National Avenue, police say he failed to stop at a red light at National and Seventh, and blew past stop signs at Sixth Street and Fifth Street.
Hinojos then drove from the south end of Grand Avenue to the Interstate 25 onramp just north of the Loves truck stop.
Hinojos merged onto the southbound lanes of the interstate and NMSP officers on the south end of Vegas placed stop sticks on the roadway near Exit 343 in hopes of deflating Hinojos’ tires; however, before he reached those stop sticks, Hinojos crossed the median, turned around and traveled north on I-25.
The chase continued past the exit for Watrous where police say Hinojos suddenly stopped. Guns drawn, police ordered Hinojos to exit the vehicle. He was then taken into custody without “further incident,” according to the complaint.
Hinojos is charged with felony aggravated fleeing of a law enforcement officer along with multiple misdemeanor traffic violations, including reckless driving, speeding, failure to register or title a vehicle and three counts of failing to obey traffic control devices.
When asked why he fled police, Hinojos said he was “pissed” and that he was “just being dumb,” according to the complaint.
During a hearing Monday, Judge Melanie Rivera set bond for Hinojos at $20,000, citing his past criminal history, which includes a previous conviction for aggravated fleeing of a law enforcement officer and attempted armed robbery.
Hinojos remained in custody at the San Miguel County Detention Center as of this writing. He is scheduled to appear in Magistrate Court Dec. 7 for a preliminary hearing.
