By ASHLEY TRUJILLO
Daily Press Staff Writer
An Artesia officer put his duty-issued Taser to use after a 23-year-old suspect allegedly fled from his vehicle during a routine traffic stop just after midnight on Saturday.
According to the criminal complaint relating to the incident, at 12:40 a.m. officers became aware of a vehicle identified as a brown Cadillac traveling 11 miles over the speed limit.
“(I) observed a vehicle heading north on North 10th and traveling 41 mph in a 30 mph zone,” the officer said in the complaint. “I then activated my emergency equipment and attempted to conduct the traffic stop.”
When the vehicle allegedly continued to move quickly, making a turn east onto West Lolita Avenue, the officer determined that the suspect, later identified as Joseph Cruz, of Artesia, was attempting to flee from law enforcement.
According to the complaint, the Cadillac then crashed into the northwest corner stop sign and continued to drive on West Lolita Avenue before making a south turn onto North Sixth Street. By the time the two officers in pursuit turned onto Sixth Street, the vehicle was stopped and “appeared to be unoccupied.” … For the rest of the story, subscribe in print and on the web.
