Chase of Stolen Pickup Ends in Arrests of Two After Driver Flees, Passenger Tries to Take Wheel

Albuquerque –

A man and woman were arrested following a police pursuit involving a stolen pickup truck Monday, according to court filings.

Mario Martin Recio, the driver, has been charged with receiving or transferring a stolen motor vehicle and tampering with evidence. A passenger, Mariah Leyva (also known as Mariah Leyba or Mariha Leyva), was also taken into custody and charged with unlawful taking of a motor vehicle (second offense).

The criminal complaint states that the incident began on May 4, when an automated license plate reader alerted Albuquerque Police Department officers to a stolen white Ford F-150. An officer located the vehicle near Central Ave and San Pablo St, where it was occupied by Recio and Leyva.

Police turned on their lights and sirens to pull the truck over. Recio slowed down like he might stop, but then kept going instead. A tracking device was deployed as the Ford proceeded southbound on San Pablo before turning east onto Bell.

A short time later, the vehicle was found parked outside an apartment complex on Grove St SE. The complaint alleges that a man, later identified as Recio, was standing near the open driver’s side door. When officers attempted to approach, Recio fled on foot, jumping fences while resisting commands.

During the same time, Leyva exited an apartment unit, entered the Ford, locked the doors and attempted to drive away before APD officers removed her and placed her in handcuffs.

The complaint indicates that surveillance video from the apartment complex showed Leyva exiting the passenger side of the truck, entering an apartment, and later returning to the vehicle and attempting to leave as officers were present.

After officers read her her rights, Leyva admitted she had been in the Ford and went into the apartment to visit a friend. She said she had only known the driver, Recio, for a few days and claimed she did not know the vehicle was stolen, adding that she reentered the truck because she did not want it to be taken. Authorities noted Leyva has a prior felony conviction for auto theft and had been previously identified as the suspect in the original auto theft case for the Ford.

Both suspects have prior criminal histories dating back to 2016, including charges related to violent offenses, theft, and weapons violations, according to authorities. Recio has multiple warrants for his arrest related to cases that occurred in 2026.

Recio also faces additional charges filed today, May 5 in separate cases, including aggravated stalking and use of a telephone to threaten or harass.

As of this publication, Recio has not been booked into MDC.