A Thatcher man is facing the possibility of multiple charges after allegedly fleeing from pursuing law enforcement in a Polaris Razor similar to the one pictured above.
By Jon Johnson
GRAHAM COUNTY – A man is facing charges of felony flight, reckless driving, and endangerment after fleeing from police in a Polaris Razor UTV with children in the vehicle.
On Sunday, Graham County Dispatch received a call from a Greenlee County Sheriff’s Office deputy who advised a man in a red and black Polaris Razor was on his property in San Jose drinking alcohol and driving. The off-duty deputy said the man, later identified as David Gomez, of Thatcher, was cursing at him while driving on his property.
A Graham County Sheriff’s Office deputy contacted the suspect vehicle while it was westbound on U.S. Highway 70 near Barney Lane. The deputy reported the UTV was speeding at 65 mph in a 55 mph zone.
The Razor failed to yield to the deputy’s emergency lights and the deputy reported following the Razor at speeds up to 75 mph. The Razor was spotted passing a vehicle on the highway while still westbound and then past a Safford Police vehicle which also had its emergency lights illuminated. At that point, the Safford officer positively identified Gomez as the driver and said there were children in the vehicle as well.
Additionally, as the Razor turned northbound onto Montierth Lane, the deputy managed to get the license plate number and it returned to being registered to Gomez.
As Gomez continued northbound on Montierth Lane at roughly 65 – 70 mph, according to the pursuing deputy, the deputy was advised by his superior officers to terminate the pursuit.
However, the Safford officer and another deputy continued to follow Gomez at a distance as he pulled into Sunrise Village Mobile Home Park. According to the report, Gomez nearly hit two pedestrians in the park who were walking their dog and then nearly hit the deputy as well while the Razor went through the park at a high rate of speed. The Razor then headed off toward the Gila River and officers discontinued following due to having a positive identification for Gomez and the information from his license plate.
The deputy then forwarded his report to the Graham County Attorney’s Office for review and charges of felony flight, reckless driving, and endangerment to be filed against Gomez.
