Thread: Police: High-speed chase suspect lied about identity

Police: High-speed chase suspect lied about identity
Posted: Saturday, June 25, 2011 8:13 pm | Updated: 9:38 pm, Sat Jun 25, 2011.

James Cannon
Midland Reporter-Telegram

Authorities said they have learned the man arrested after Friday's high-speed chase lied about his identity and is wanted by Interpol for Mexican warrants.

Javier Barragan Valdez, 43, was uncooperative with police and provided false information, saying his name was Francisco Lozano Baeza, authorities said. Immigration and Customs Enforcement later positively identified Valdez. Midland police also have learned since the arrest that Valdez is wanted by Interpol for sexual assault and kidnapping in Mexico.

He is currently being held in the county jail without bond on an ICE detainer and for a second-degree felony of endangering a child and a third-degree felony of evading police with a motor vehicle, according to records. Valdez also was charged with a misdemeanor count of resisting arrest and cited for multiple traffic citations.


Valdez

Midland police currently are unsure whether state, federal or international agencies will prosecute Valdez first, a police spokesperson said Saturday afternoon.

Police began pursuing Valdez when Midland police tried to initiate a traffic stop about 4:30 p.m. near Interstate 20 and Lamesa Road. Officers wanted to detain him for a separate investigation, Sgt. Rick Lewis said while on scene Friday evening.

During the high-speed chase, Baeza led officers on southeast county roads, with speeds exceeding 90 mph. Police eventually caught up with Baeza on a dirt road after he ditched his vehicle, leaving behind his girlfriend Liliana Cabrera and the pair's 1-year-old son.

He ran southeast from the vehicle into a thicket of brush and bushes. Midland police sent two K-9 units to track Baeza from the vehicle. The Texas Department of Public Service also deployed an aerial unit to help track him.

It didn't take law enforcement officials long to track Valdez, who was on foot, without water and running from police in 107 degree weather. Officer Chad Simpson's dog, Sid, tracked down Valdez, biting him in the upper leg area, Lewis said.

Officers carrying assault rifles marched him out of the West Texas desert in handcuffs shortly before 6 p.m. about a half mile south of East County Road 160 on CR 1130.

He was taken to Midland Memorial Hospital before being transported to the county jail.

James Cannon can be reached at jcannon@mrt.com

Read more: Police: High-speed chase suspect lied about identity - Mywesttexas.com: http://www.mywesttexas.com/top_stories/ ... z1QOmlJmbF
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution

The Poster Boy for IA'S