By Jon Johnson/Gila Herald
jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com
SOLOMON — A high-speed pursuit stretching across Graham County along U.S. Highway 70 late Friday night resulted in the arrest of a man and woman after law enforcement deployed a tire-tethering Grappler device to bring the suspect vehicle to a halt.
Francisco Javier Perez, 25, and Yvana Mia Lopez, 22, were taken into custody and booked into the Graham County Adult Detention Facility early Saturday morning on multiple felony drug and traffic charges.
According to law enforcement reports, the incident began around 10:41 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 28, when an off-duty Pima police officer returning home from serving a search warrant initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle near Highway 70 and Solomon Road east of Safford. During the initial encounter, the occupants gave the officer false identification. Once authorities determined the true identities of the individuals and suspected drug paraphernalia in the vehicle, the driver sped off eastbound, prompting a high-speed pursuit.
The vehicle accelerated to speeds exceeding 100 mph as it fled eastbound past Bowie Avenue. Dispatchers immediately alerted the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the neighboring Greenlee County Sheriff’s Office.
During the chase, the fleeing vehicle repeatedly slammed on its brakes, traveled into oncoming westbound traffic lanes while driving eastbound, and eventually killed its headlights near Milepost 360 in an effort to evade pursuing officers.
As the vehicle’s rear tire blew out and began throwing sparks, its speed dropped to around 50 mph near Milepost 366. Pursuing officers seized the opportunity to deploy a Grappler Police Bumper—a tethering device that snags a fleeing car’s rear tire—successfully stopping the vehicle in its tracks.
After stopping, the male driver tried to flee on foot but was apprehended nearby. Both Perez and Lopez resisted arrest before officers successfully detained them around 11:03 p.m. Paramedics were called to the scene after one of the suspects reported difficulty breathing.
The disabled vehicle briefly blocked both lanes of Highway 70 before officers opened one lane to traffic while waiting for a tow truck. DPS units remained on scene to assist with traffic control until the roadway was fully cleared.
Perez was booked into jail on charges including possession of a dangerous drug, possession of drug paraphernalia, unlawful flight from a pursuing law enforcement vehicle, endangerment, two counts of aggravated DUI (including driving on a suspended/revoked license for DUI), resisting arrest creating risk of physical injury, and refusing to provide a true name.
Lopez was booked into jail on charges of possession of a dangerous drug, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession/use of a narcotic drug, and resisting arrest.
