Teen who stole a truck and fled from police while high sentenced to probation

Contributed Photo/Courtesy GCSO: Raymone Damien Aragon, 19, was sentenced to four years on probation and 180 days in jail for stealing a truck and fleeing from authorities while high.

By Jon Johnson

jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com

SAFFORD – Raymone Damien Aragon, 19, has been given a chance to turn his life around.

Aragon was sentenced by Graham County Superior Court Judge Michael D. Peterson on Tuesday to four years on probation along with 180 days in jail and mandatory rehab. Aragon previously signed a plea agreement on Aug. 4. He has credit for 72 days already served. In addition to his incarceration and probation, Aragon was sentenced to pay $14,743 in restitution to Bowman Consulting.

“The presentence report indicates that Aragon has a serious drug problem and that he needs extensive help overcoming his addiction,” wrote Graham County Attorney Kenny Angle in a press release. “Aragon began using methamphetamine at the age of 13. Aragon has an uphill battle to overcome his addiction. We decided to give him one chance at probation and rehabilitation since he had just turned 19 when he committed these crimes. Aragon has spent the last few months in our local jail and claims that he is clean and sober for the first time in six years. Aragon requested an opportunity to enter rehab to help him overcome his addiction.”

Aragon was originally charged with multiple felonies, including theft of means of transportation, burglary in the third degree, criminal damage, unlawful flight from law enforcement, endangerment, DUI, and DUI-drug. A blood sample from Aragon later tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine.

On Aug. 4, he pleaded guilty to burglary in the third degree and criminal damage – Class-4 felonies, unlawful flight from pursuing law enforcement – a Class-5 felony, and DUI-drug – a Class-1 misdemeanor.

The charges stem from an incident that took place in the early morning of March 29, as officers attempted to pull over a white, 2012 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Aragon as it raced westbound on U.S. Highway 70 through Thatcher at a high rate of speed. A police sergeant terminated the pursuit shortly after the suspect fled. It was later learned that the truck had been stolen out of the Bowman Consulting lot and its fence had been knocked down and damaged.

Meanwhile, the truck sped through the Bylas area and came upon an accident scene near the Bylas Bridge, where traffic was stopped due to a pedestrian fatality hit-and-run that was so violent that the victim’s torso had been separated from his legs.   

According to reports from the San Carlos Police Department and DPS, and interviews from others stopped at the scene, the truck tore through the area, nearly missing several officers. While doing so, the officers believed they saw front end damage to the vehicle and possibly blood or body remains on the side of the truck and thought it might have been involved in the fatal hit-and-run.

SCPD  and DPS officers initiated a pursuit, as the truck, driven by Aragon, hit speeds near 100 mph and crossed over and nearly hit oncoming traffic multiple times, according to police reports.

At around milepost 274, SCPD officers successfully spiked the truck and it crashed through a guard rail and continued into the desert. The truck finally came to a stop and Aragon fled on foot but was quickly apprehended.  

Aragon suffered lacerations to his forehead, right eye, face, and both legs in the collision and was flown to Honor Health Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center, where he was intubated and placed in the hospital’s intensive care unit. It was later discovered that Aragon was not involved in the fatal hit-and-run and only attempted to travel through the cordoned-off scene.  

While incapacitated at the hospital, a warrant for his blood was approved and he was served while still unconscious. His blood was then taken for testing purposes and later came back positive for methamphetamine and Midazolam, which is a sedative depressant commonly used under the direct supervision of a doctor to produce sleepiness or drowsiness and relieve anxiety before surgery.

Prior to the truck theft incident, Aragon had been arrested on a misdemeanor warrant after seeking treatment for a festering gunshot wound at the Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center in February.

At that time, Aragon said he had been shot during an altercation in the Phoenix area during a road rage incident.

Aragon and his family are securing a bed at the Canyon Vista Recovery Center in Mesa, according to the release.

If Aragon violates his probation or fails to enter or complete rehab, he faces a possible sentence of 10 years in prison.

“Aragon’s fate is in his own hands,” Angle said in the release. “He can either make a choice to change his life or he will face up to 10 years in prison if he decides to continue committing crimes or if he violates probation.”