By Jon Johnson
THATCHER — A report of a suspicious individual lurking around a vacant home quickly escalated into a high-speed pursuit on Friday morning, June 5, culminating in a dramatic vehicle immobilization, a foot chase, and the deployment of a Taser on U.S. Highway 70.
Robert Santoya, 42, of Benson, was ultimately apprehended and booked into the Graham County Jail on charges including possession of a dangerous drug, possession of drug paraphernalia, unlawful flight from a pursuing law enforcement vehicle, and DUI-drug.
A Suspicious Call in Daley Estates
The incident began at approximately 11:05 a.m., when authorities received a call about a suspicious person in the Daley Estates neighborhood. A resident reported that an unknown man wearing a ponytail, a hat, and a cut-off shirt was lurking near a neighbor’s home that had been vacant for several months.
When the resident confronted the man, he reportedly began walking toward her menacingly, only stopping when her husband appeared. The suspect then left the area in a faded red sedan. The resident, who noted the vehicle’s license plate, informed arriving officers that the man appeared to be heavily under the influence of narcotics.
A responding officer patrolling the area soon spotted the suspect vehicle traveling well above the posted 25 mph speed limit near Brinkerhoff and Hoopes Avenue. While following the vehicle, the officer observed the driver weaving heavily within his lane, leaning over the seat, and continuously bobbing his head. A traffic stop was initiated on Reay Lane near 20th Avenue.
Escalation and Flight
When officers contacted Santoya, he appeared highly agitated and nervous. He claimed he was looking at houses for his mother, but repeatedly insisted he was in a hurry and needed to return to Benson to pick up his dog.
Suspecting that Santoya was operating the vehicle under the influence, officers asked him to step out of the car to perform Standardized Field Sobriety Tests. Santoya refused, became increasingly argumentative, and demanded a supervisor.
When an officer opened the driver’s side door to remove him, Santoya began reaching for an unknown object with his right hand. An officer managed to grab his hand while another drew a Taser, ordering him to comply. Instead, Santoya abruptly threw the vehicle into drive and sped away North on Reay Lane.
Speeds Rocket to 90 MPH
Thatcher officers immediately engaged in a vehicle pursuit with emergency lights and sirens activated. Santoya fled Northbound on Reay Lane, nearly driving off the roadway multiple times as his speed rose from 45 to 95 mph.
Upon reaching U.S. Highway 70, Santoya ran a red light and turned West toward Pima. While fleeing down the highway at speeds reaching 80 mph, Santoya attempted to pass a civilian vehicle on the right shoulder near Webster Road, nearly causing a severe collision when the civilian motorist slowed down to yield to the pursuing patrol units.
Recognizing the escalating danger to the public, a Pima Police Department unit equipped with a “Grappler” vehicle-tethering device staged near Norton Road to intercept the pursuit. As the chase approached his position, the primary pursuing officers backed away, allowing the Pima unit to slide directly behind Santoya’s vehicle.
At approximately 11:34 a.m., the Pima officer successfully deployed the Grappler netting. The device ensnared the sedan’s rear tire, instantly locking it up and bringing the high-speed pursuit to a safe, controlled halt near milepost 332.
Taser Deployment and Arrest
The end of the vehicle pursuit marked the beginning of a foot chase. Santoya leaped from the stopped vehicle and fled on foot toward Pima. Officers pursued him for roughly 100 yards down the highway.
An officer initially drew a service weapon but quickly transitioned to a Taser upon seeing that Santoya’s hands were empty. The officer fired a set of Taser probes, which failed to make a clean connection. In quick succession, the officer deployed additional cartridges. This second deployment successfully connected, temporarily incapacitating Santoya and bringing him to the ground. He was immediately placed in handcuffs.
A search of Santoya’s clothing yielded two separate plastic baggies tucked into his front pants pocket, both containing a white crystalline substance. Combined, the bags held approximately 2.23 grams of a substance that later field-tested positive for methamphetamine. Officers also discovered lighters, casino chips, a fixed-blade knife, and two axes inside the vehicle. The weapons were seized for safekeeping, and the vehicle was towed from the scene.
Santoya was transported to the Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center, where he was medically cleared following the Taser deployment. He was then booked into the Graham County Jail.
