New Mexico State Police arrest man for 5th DWI following pursuit near Quay County

QUAY COUNTY, NM (KFDA) – A man has been arrested for his fifth DWI after running from New Mexico State Police.

According to New Mexico State Police, an officer conducted a welfare check on a car on the side of I-40 on Nov. 18 in Quay County.

The officer saw 44-year-old Jimmie Yazzie urinating on the side of the road and engaged his emergency equipment.

Yazzie then got into the car and drove off.

The officer used Yazzie’s car information and found that he was currently on parole for four DWI convictions and aggravated fleeing. Yazzie’s driver’s license was also suspended.

A caution was also issued for Yazzie’s vehicle.

Shortly after, the officer found Yazzie’s car at a gas station in Newkirk, New Mexico, just west of Quay County.

The officer attempted a traffic stop, but Yazzie did not comply. He refused to get out of the car before trying to drive away, pinning the officer between the car and the gas pump.

Yazzie then got onto westbound I-40 and began a pursuit.

New Mexico State Police officers were able to stop the vehicle by performing a PIT maneuver.

Yazzie then got out of the car and started running on foot. He was spotted a short time later and detained without incident.

Yazzie admitted to consuming alcohol before driving.

He was booked into the DeBaca County Detention Center and charged with aggravated DWI, aggravated assault on a peace officer, aggravated fleeing a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer and multiple traffic violations.