A man suspected of committing an armed robbery Thursday afternoon and attempting to flee from police was arrested after crashing his escape vehicle and leading police on a short foot pursuit.
Ysidro Tito Fernandez, 38, of the 100 block of Karen Avenue, is charged with one count each of armed robbery and aggravated fleeing from a law enforcement officer.
Shortly before 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31, Las Cruces Police were dispatched to Zia Finance at 2132 N. Main St. where an employee had called 911. Police learned that a man armed with a large knife had entered the business, demanded cash and fled in what was described as a white Chevrolet Impala.
Information on the vehicle was spread to other officers, one of whom spotted such a vehicle heading southbound on Main Street.
The officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop but the driver, later identified as Fernandez, led him on a brief pursuit on Main Street and then west on Chestnut Avenue. Fernandez then crashed into another vehicle that was northbound on Alameda Boulevard. The suspect vehicle continued westbound a short distance where it collided into a residential rock wall, nearly striking two men working in the yard.
Fernandez fled the crash on foot to the rear of the residence where he was subsequently detained by a Las Cruces Police officer. The driver of the vehicle struck by Fernandez was slightly injured in the crash and one of the men working behind the wall was struck by a rock. None of the injuries were life-threatening.
The cash stolen from Zia Finance was located in a front pocket of Hernandez’s pants. The knife he used to commit the armed robbery was located in the vehicle he drove. Police learned that Fernandez had borrowed the vehicle from a friend.
Police learned that Fernandez also had a warrant for his arrest out of District Court. He was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center with a cash-only bond set at $75,000.