One Artesia teen was arrested Monday and charges are pending against two others in connection with a December 2017 attempted burglary that ended in a brief pursuit with police.
Artesia Police Department officers were dispatched just after 2:30 p.m. Dec. 19, 2017, to the area of Cerro Road in reference to three individuals wearing ski masks and backpacks, and jumping the fences of homes in the area.
A blue vehicle carrying three males had been seen leaving the area, and when officers attempted to stop it as it turned south onto Bowman Avenue from Richey Avenue, the vehicle continued to accelerate. The driver eventually lost control and wrecked into the yard of a home at the intersection of Bowman and Cannon avenues near Park Junior High School.
The three teen subjects fled on foot. Two were taken immediately into custody, and the third had escaped by running down the alley, jumping onto a dumpster, and running across the roof of a shed.
Police recovered a Mossy Oak-style folding knife from a ledge near the front door of a residence in the 1500 block of Cannon were the first two subjects had been seen before apprehension. Upon looking into the vehicle, officers saw several phones, a face mask, and several packages of hypodermic needles.
The two apprehended teens admitted they had intended to rob a home on Cerro Road but, after jumping fences until finding an unlocked back door, had encountered a large dog and run, returning to their vehicle and leaving the area.
The driver of the vehicle also admitted to being in possession of a Ruger P90, which was located under the driver’s seat in the vehicle. He stated he knew it to be stolen and had received it from a friend of the third individual in their party, from whom, the report states, the boy purchases marijuana.
The teens identified the third individual who had escaped authorities as Baylor Gray, 17. Gray’s parents had, in the meantime, contacted authorities and asked to speak with them. Officers conducted an interview at the family’s home in the 2400 block of Cerro Road.
According to the police report, Gray said the driver of the vehicle had suggested robbing a home and had made similar suggestions in the past, which Gray “refused.” He told police he “did not know why he went along with it today.”
Gray admitted all three teens knew their intentions and were equipped with ski masks, gloves and backpacks.
A warrant was subsequently issued for Gray’s arrest on charges of conspiracy to commit burglary and resisting, evading or obstructing an officer. He was taken into custody Monday evening. Police say charges are currently pending on the other two individuals involved.
