Stolen Vehicle Eludes Police but Suspect is Captured After Dumping It

Albuquerque –

On January 20th, we were driving around the west side when we heard officers were trying to locate a stolen vehicle. The suspects had already eluded the officers by driving like a maniac in the area of Montano and Taylor Ranch NW.

A criminal complaint states that the vehicle had been reported stolen and the Real Time Crime Center was tracking it remotely in and around the west side of Albuquerque. Just before noon, marked patrol officers began watching the vehicle as it drove around the Taylor Ranch and Montano area.

When officers tried to pull over the vehicle, it fled and officers stopped following it. Witnesses in the area noticed a couple dump the vehicle and they were observed walking away from it east of Montano towards Coors NW.

Officers surrounded the couple and detained them while they investigated further. Eventually, the male now identified as Jesus Manuel Rodriguez admitted he was the one driving the vehicle and he had “purchased it.” It is unclear why Jesus drove it like he stole it and eventually dumped it, if he indeed had legitimately purchased it as he stated.

We captured footage of the arrest as members of APD Motors officers took the couple into custody.

Rodriguez is now in custody at MDC while he ponders his life decisions. The girl who was with him was released after Rodriguez told them she knew nothing about his possession of the vehicle.