Stolen Car Suspect Admits Fleeing Because He Had Warrants

Albuquerque –

On June 10, 2025, at approximately 6:12PM, an officer was dispatched to the area of Coors Blvd and Bridge Blvd in response to an Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) alert for a stolen grey Nissan Versa traveling northbound. A second ALPR alert soon placed the vehicle northbound on Yucca Ave from Central Ave. The officer located the vehicle near 57th St and Central Ave and confirmed the plate. The officer followed the vehicle westbound on Central Ave, observing a male driver, later identified as Estevan Maestas, and a female passenger, Renee Romero.

A traffic stop was initiated at 60th St and Central Ave. A first attempt to deploy a StarChase GPS dart failed, but a second attempt was successful. The vehicle fled, running a red light, and dispatch tracked its movement. Officers deployed spike strips at Airport Rd and Bluewater Rd, but the suspect evaded them and continued to Unser Blvd, where the vehicle was abandoned near the Walmart at 1820 Unser Blvd NW. Witnesses advised the occupants fled eastbound into a nearby apartment complex. A witness told us they saw the vehicle near the pharmacy side of Walmart, where two officers were seen processing it.

During a perimeter search, officers located Renee Romero, who identified the driver as her boyfriend, Estevan Maestas. She claimed he fled due to a possible outstanding warrant. Romero disclosed that she dropped a pink bag and had a brown bag, both of which potentially contained drug paraphernalia (“tooters” and foil). She told officers she believed the vehicle belonged to Maestas’ deceased mother and said she didn’t know it had been reported stolen.

PATREON MEMBERS CAN READ THE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT HERE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/stolen-car-he-131270946

The officer returned to the vehicle, confirmed it was listed as stolen, and observed in plain view drug-related items including a partially burned blue pill marked “M” on foil and multiple straws and foils with black residue, consistent with fentanyl use.

Multiple residents reported seeing Maestas hiding in a backyard shed in the area of Pinewood Drive and Ranchwood Drive. Officers launched a drone overhead, they made announcements for him to surrender, and eventually made verbal contact with him. After about an hour, APD officers took Maestas into custody around 7:25 PM.

(story continues below photo)

A search of the shed revealed a black container with blue pills marked “M” and “30”, believed to be fentanyl. Maestas also had a glass vial with a powder substance on him, which he claimed was methamphetamine laced with cocaine. He admitted fleeing due to a felony warrant and confirmed all narcotics and paraphernalia in the vehicle were his, stating Romero had no knowledge of them.

Officers transported Maestas to the Prisoner Transport Center (PTC), where they booked him. They also transported Romero but later released her based on Maestas’ statements and the circumstances.

Authorities charged Maestas with Possession of a Controlled Substance (Felony), Use or Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Resisting, Evading or Obstructing an Officer (Arrest), Aggravated Fleeing a Law Enforcement Officer, Reckless Driving, Tampering with Evidence, two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance (Felony), and Driving While License Suspended. He had outstanding warrants for Possession of a controlled substance (felony) and Driving While License Revoked-DWI Related.

As of this publication, Maestas is still being held at MDC.