EL PASO COUNTY – Around 2 a.m. Wednesday morning, an El Paso County Sheriff’s Deputy in the are of Peterson Road and Panamint Court noticed a pickup truck with “equipment violations” driving around the parking lots of the Super 8 Motel and Econo Lodge.
When the deputy attempted a traffic stop, the suspect initially slowed down but then fled from the deputy.
The Sheriff’s Office said the suspect would slow down and do circles in the middle of the road while slamming on his brakes, trying to bait the deputies into hitting him. A second deputy responded and his vehicle was hit by the suspect’s vehicle.
During the chase, the suspect headed east on Highway 94 and left the roadway, driving into a field. The Sheriff’s Office said he drove in circles, hit several items in the field, and eventually disabled his vehicle.
The deputies were unable to enter the field in their vehicles, and when they approached the suspect vehicle it was empty.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the suspect was found lying on the ground a short distance away with a bible near his head. The Sheriff’s Office believes he was under the influence of narcotics.
The suspect has been identified as 24-year-old Hector Villa Diaz. He was booked into the Criminal Justice Center on various charges including 1st-degree assault on a peace officer, vehicular eluding, and reckless driving.
