Wednesday, February 23, 2005

Identity theft suspected in hospital escape case

Clara Garcia News-Bulletin Staff Writer; cgarcia@news-bulletin.com

A suspected case of identity theft had sheriff's deputies chasing the wrong man after an alleged suspect escaped from custody this weekend at an Albuquerque hospital.

An arrest warrant has now been quashed — canceled — for Mark A. Chavez, 38, of Albuquerque after the sheriff's department came to believe the suspect they were searching for had used Chavez's identity.

A new warrant was issued on Tuesday for Jessie James Chavez, 38, of Albuquerque (no relation to Mark Chavez). Valencia County Undersheriff William Martinez said a CrimeStopper's tip led police to issue the new warrant when the caller described tattoos on Jessie Chavez's body that were similar to those officers saw on their suspect.

"Evidently, it was a case of identity theft," Martinez said. "Mr. (Mark) Chavez had his wallet lost or stolen about two years ago and the individual who we arrested on Saturday was using his identity."

Martinez explained that while the suspect didn't have Mark Chavez's identification at the time of the arrest, he provided deputies with Chavez's name, Social Security number and date of birth. The undersheriff said he received a fax with Chavez's picture on it from the Rio Rancho Police Department.

"Our deputies knew immediately that the photo of Mr. (Mark) Chavez wasn't that of the same man we arrested over the weekend," Martinez said Tuesday morning. "We immediately sought to quash the arrest warrant and a new warrant was issued this morning after we received new information from the CrimesStoppers tip."

The undersheriff said that many people will give officers a wrong name when they're being arrested. He said that, often, officers won't really know who they have in custody until they are booked into jail and a fingerprint check is done.

According to Martinez, the incident began late Saturday afternoon when Deputies Shannon Brady and Joseph Martinez were conducting a traffic stop on Sportsman Lane in El Cerro Mission. The deputies were out of their units and heard a vehicle approaching them at a very high rate of speed.

"At that time, they observed a 1986 Honda traveling their direction and swerving on the road," the undersheriff said. "The deputies did have to get out of the way as the vehicle sped past them."

Deputy Frank Methola, who was en route to the traffic stop when he saw the vehicle drive past his colleagues, pursued the vehicle and attempted to stop it. Martinez said the driver of the vehicle drove about three blocks before losing control and crashing into a chain-linked fence.

Also in the vehicle were a woman and a 5-year-old child, who were unhurt in the crash.

"After he crashed, he ran from the deputy," Martinez said. "It appears he had to be tased when he was running. As he fell to the ground, the other two deputies arrived on scene and assisted in attempting to arrest him."

The undersheriff also said that the suspect continued to resist and fought with the deputies. When the deputies were finally able to bring him under control, the suspect complained of a bloody nose and shoulder injury.

Before being transported to the county jail to be booked, the suspect was taken to the University of New Mexico Hospital where he received treatment for a broken nose and an old collarbone injury, Martinez said. It was when he was being taken in a wheelchair to Deputy Methola's unit later that night that the suspect made his escape.

"As he stood up to get into the vehicle from the wheelchair, he gave the impression of being unsteady on his feet," Martinez said. "As the deputy was clearing the back seat for him to get into, that's when he bolted."

Methola chased the suspect through a construction site at the hospital but was unable to apprehend him. With the help of Albuquerque Police Department officers, a perimeter was set up around the hospital in an effort to capture the suspect. After a few hours, the search was called off.

Jessie Chavez is wanted on charges of aggravated assault on a peace officer, assault on a peace officer, aggravated fleeing from a peace officer, abuse of a child, escape from a peace officer and reckless driving.

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