Contributed Photo/Courtesy GCSO: Jay Curtis Jr., 21, was booked into jail after failing to yield to an officer for a minor traffic violation.
By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – A man who said he didn’t “feel safe” stopping for police ironically placed himself in a high-risk traffic stop in which he was arrested at gunpoint last Friday.
What would have likely been a verbal warning for speeding instead resulted in criminal charges after the suspect refused to yield and continued to their property, where he was then taken into custody.
Jay Curtis Jr., 21, was arrested and booked into the Graham County Adult Detention Facility on charges of unlawful flight from law enforcement and misconduct involving weapons.
According to a Safford Police report, at about 10:15 p.m. on Friday, April 12, an officer southbound on Highway 191 just south of Safford caught a northbound vehicle – identified as a white, 1990 Honda Accord – traveling at 61 mph in a 55 mph zone. In addition to the slight speed that was confirmed by the officer’s radar, the Honda was pulling a trailer that didn’t have a working side tail light.
The officer turned around and caught up with the vehicle just as the speed limit lowered to 45 mph. The officer initiated his emergency lights in an attempt to make a traffic stop, however, the driver of the Accord – identified as Jay Curtis Jr. – didn’t stop but instead put his hand outside of his window and slowed to 45 mph, according to the Safford Police officer’s report. The officer reported he then activated his siren but the driver still failed to stop and instead put his hands out of his window again and moved them in an up-and-down motion.
As the Accord continued northbound, officers began to prepare to spike-trip the car and the trailing officer slowed down and gave room. However, before that happened the car turned into Curtis Landscape at 1601 S. 1st. Ave. and parked.
Other officers and deputies with the Graham County Sheriff’s Office then joined the Safford officer and Curtis Jr. was ordered out of the car at gunpoint. A passenger who was in the car was released at the scene.
After being taken into custody, Curtis Jr. allegedly told an officer that he had heard from family members that if you didn’t feel safe stopping for an officer while being pulled over you can continue to drive to where you do feel safe. Curtis Jr. was then placed under arrest.
A black, Sig Sauer handgun was located on the car’s dashboard with a magazine loaded with 10, 9mm rounds beside it. Both the gun and ammunition were placed in lockup at the Safford Police Department.
Since the car was on his parents’ property, Curtis Jr.’s mother was allowed to take possession of it instead of being towed. Curtis Jr. was then booked into jail without further incident.
