State police: Officer fired shots at suspect in stolen cop car in Lemitar

A state police officer fired shots at a suspect who got behind the wheel of a patrol vehicle and tried to escape at a truck stop in Lemitar, according to New Mexico State Police.

Around 9:30 a.m., an officer at the Phillips 66 truck stop observed a man in a stolen vehicle. The officer detained the suspect and put him in the back of his patrol vehicle while investigating the stolen car.

State police say the suspect then got out of the rear seat, entered the driver’s seat and then stole the police vehicle. During the escape, NMSP said the officer fired shots.

The state police officer and a Soccoro County sheriff’s deputy, who was assisting at the scene, then pursued the stolen cop car in the deputy’s vehicle. The pursuit lasted about 2 miles before the suspect crashed into a drainage ditch.

The officers then took the suspect into custody without further incident. No one was injured, according to NMSP.

The name of the suspect has not yet been released.

The officer who fired shots during the incident has been placed on standard administrative leave.