NM State Police: Man arrested after fleeing after being shot at by deputy in Lincoln County

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — A man was arrested after he allegedly stole merchandise from a discount store in Capitan, New Mexico, attempted to flee from police and was eventually shot at by a Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputy on Saturday, June 22, New Mexico State Police said.

According to state police, Lincoln County Sheriff’s officers were called to the Family Dollar Store in Capitan shortly before 1 p.m. Saturday.

According to state police investigators, Victor Herrera, 22, and Maggie Mondragon, 25, were driving a stolen pickup truck when they stole merchandise from the store.

Lincoln County Sheriff’s officers found the vehicle and attempted to make a traffic stop, but the couple attempted to flee until they came to a stop on Highway 380, state police said.

Both Herrera and Mondragon got out of the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot, state police said.

The officers managed to arrest the driver of the vehicle, Mondragon.

Herrera fled into the mountains on foot and was not arrested at the time, state police said.

Later that same day, a BOLO (be on the lookout) alert was issued for Herrera. State police said that after fleeing on foot, he stole another truck and was then tracked down by Lincoln County Sheriff’s officers who attempted to conduct a traffic stop. Herrera continued to flee in the truck onto Salazar Canyon Road.

A deputy sheriff then deployed “spike strips” on Salazar Canyon Road, but Herrera allegedly drove around the spikes.

At that point, the deputy fired at least one shot from his service weapon, state police said.

Following the police-involved shooting, NM State Police officers assisted in the pursuit of the stolen vehicle. NMSP units located the truck and performed a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT) maneuver to stop the vehicle.

Herrera was subsequently arrested. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he was treated for minor injuries sustained during the pursuit. New Mexico police did not say whether or not Herrera was shot.

No officer was injured in this incident.

Herrera is charged with unlawful taking of a motor vehicle and fleeing from a police officer. The charges Mondragon faces have not been disclosed.

The LCSO deputy who fired his service weapon was not identified.