Valencia County Sheriff’s Office vehicle stolen; suspect arrested in Albuquerque

A Valencia County Sheriff’s Office vehicle was stolen Wednesday morning and the driver was able to make it to Albuquerque before being taken into custody.

Valencia County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Gary Hall said the deputy’s cruiser was taken from near an Allsup’s near Highway 314.

Wednesday afternoon, Hall identified the suspect as 34-year-old Salvador T. Perez. He is in custody of the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office.

Hall said he will be charged with aggravated assault on a police officer and other yet unknown counts for Wednesday’s incident. He also had a felony warrant out for his arrest from Probation and Parole on child abuse charges.

The deputy was sitting in his patrol car when Perez walked up and bashed in the driver’s-side window with a metal rod, Hall said.

The deputy called for backup, reversed and got out of his cruiser to confront Perez when another deputy arrived.

At some point during the confrontation, Perez managed to jump in the patrol car and drive off.

Hall said deputies pursued him north into Bernalillo County, sometimes at speeds of more than 100 miles per hour.

A spike belt was successfully deployed and the vehicle was brought to a stop at the intersection of Isleta and Rio Bravo SW.

New Mexico State Police and Bernalillo County sheriff’s deputies are assisting in the investigation.

Perez had an injury believed to be from before the initial confrontation with deputies and was transported to a local hospital.

Hall said there were weapons in the deputy’s vehicle when it was stolen. No deputies or others were injured during the confrontation or pursuit.