Staff Reports
SAFFORD – A Safford man with an active felony warrant led law enforcement on a low-speed pursuit on Dec. 15, culminating in a tense standoff where he stabbed himself in the neck, according to police reports.
Robert Hernandez Jr., 39, identified as a prohibited possessor due to prior felony convictions, was taken into custody after the incident near 1st Avenue and Discovery Park Boulevard. He was transported to the Mount Graham Regional Medical Center and later airlifted to Tucson Medical Center for surgery after nicking his carotid artery. Charges of unlawful flight from law enforcement and misconduct involving weapons have been forwarded to the Graham County Attorney’s Office for review.
The daytime incident followed a separate high-speed pursuit involving the same vehicle early that morning, which police believe Hernandez also evaded.
Early morning chase on Swift Trail
The events began around 12:28 a.m. on Dec. 15, when an officer spotted a dark brown Nissan Altima backing out of a residence on West 10th Street. The vehicle and address were linked to an ongoing domestic violence investigation from Dec. 12, as well as an active felony warrant for Hernandez, the vehicle’s primary driver.
After initiating a traffic stop for a stop sign violation, the Altima briefly pulled over. A female passenger exited and raised her hands, but the driver fled, sparking a pursuit. Speeds reached up to 90 mph on U.S. Highway 191 before the vehicle turned onto State Route 366 (Swift Trail) toward Mount Graham. The chase was terminated for safety near milepost 117 because the suspect continued up the mountain with the lights off, and no arrest was made at that time.
Daytime standoff and arrest
Later that morning, around 10:35 a.m., an officer observed the same brown Nissan driving off-road in a desert area southwest of 1st Avenue and Discovery Park Boulevard. Recognizing the vehicle from the prior pursuit and confirming Hernandez as the driver, the officer activated emergency lights.
Hernandez reportedly waved out the window, stating he would surrender later, and initially drove slowly while refusing commands to stop. Officers boxed in the vehicle to prevent escape.
During the standoff, Hernandez held a 4.5-inch fixed-blade knife to his throat, threatening self-harm. Negotiations involving the police chief and other officers lasted about 25 minutes. After less-lethal measures failed to gain compliance, officers broke the driver’s side window. Hernandez then stabbed himself in the neck before being pepper-sprayed and exiting the vehicle.
He was disarmed, handcuffed, and given immediate medical aid on scene. The wound required emergency surgery in Tucson. Hernandez was read his Miranda rights at the hospital, where he admitted to both pursuits, citing he was “not in the right head space” for arrest and aware police were seeking him for the domestic incident and warrant issues.
The vehicle, owned by Hernandez’s parents, was towed. The knife was collected as evidence.
Authorities confirmed Hernandez’s prohibited possessor status bars him from possessing weapons. No officers or bystanders were injured.
The Graham County Attorney’s Office will determine formal charges.
