NMSP News:BELEN ― Around 8:30 a.m. Monday, a New Mexico State Police patrol officer stopped to conduct a welfare check on a black Nissan Altima parked on N.M. 60 east of mile marker 166.
The vehicle, later determined to be stolen, was parked on the side of the rural highway. During the welfare check, the driver of the vehicle, later identified as Mykl Chavez (28) of Belen, tried to run over the officer and the officer fired his department issued firearm. Chavez then fled from the officer and a pursuit ensued.
The pursuit continued onto State Road 116 until approximately mile marker 15 where the vehicle crashed at a residence located on State Road 116. Chavez exited the vehicle, and tried to enter another vehicle parked on the property. After he was unsuccessful, he fled on foot and was apprehended by officers a short distance later.
Chavez sustained non-life-threatening injuries from his vehicle crash. There is no indication that he was struck by the officer’s gunfire. Chavez was transported to University of New Mexico Hospital where he is currently being treated for his injuries.
When officers took Chavez into custody, he had three outstanding warrants out of Valencia County for the following charges.
Warrant #1: Transferring stolen motor vehicle and resisting / evading a law enforcement officer.
Warrant #2: Probation violation on the charges of receiving a stolen motor vehicle, possession of controlled substance, aggravated fleeing law enforcement officer, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Warrant #3: Failure to appear in court.
At the time he was detained, Chavez was an absconder from New Mexico Probation and Parole office. The vehicle in which Chavez was driving was stolen out of Veguita, NM Oct. 8, 2017. Chavez was reported as the suspect in that incident. Charges for this incident are pending.
This incident is being investigated by the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau. The name of the officer involved and further details will not be released until after all interviews are conducted. At the conclusion of this investigation this report will be forwarded to an assigned district attorney’s office for review.