A motorist pulled over Thursday afternoon for a relatively minor traffic violation was arrested after he allegedly pushed a police officer, and fled the area before crashing into a parked car and a house.
Jasper Garcia Montano, 20, then ran from the crash leaving behind his girlfriend and his two children, an infant and toddler.
Montano was charged with two counts of child abuse, battery on a peace officer, aggravated fleeing from an officer, resisting or obstructing, and concealing his identity. He was also charged with disorderly conduct, the original reason for the traffic stop, and for driving without a driver’s license, no insurance and no registration.
At around 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, a Las Cruces Police officer stopped a Pontiac Grand Am after its driver, later identified as Montano, was seen yelling vulgarities while driving along Solano Drive. The traffic stop was conducted near Solano and Kansas Avenue. The officer quickly discovered that Montano was driving without a license and the registration to his vehicle had expired.
As the officer attempted to speak with Montano, Montano began giving indications that he was going to leave the traffic stop. Montano then pushed the officer away from the vehicle and drove away at a high rate of speed.
Officer gave pursuit and followed the vehicle a short distance until Montano failed to negotiate a turn and crashed through a wall at 525 Lujan St. Montano’s vehicle also struck a parked car and the home at that address.
Montano ran away from the crash leaving behind his 23-year-old girlfriend and his two small children, a 3-week-old and a 2-year-old. The woman and two small children escaped injury. The parked car was unoccupied at the time of the crash and no one from the home was injured.
Police located and apprehended Montano a short distance away. He was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center with bond set at $10,000.
Information from: Las Cruces Police