By Jon Johnson
SAN JOSE – The use of license plate reading cameras led to a high-speed chase in San Jose early Tuesday morning that culminated in the arrest of Anthony Rodriguez, 44.
The incident began when a black four-door sedan, identified by a slanted license plate and a Kansas City Chiefs sticker, was spotted by a Flock camera at about 12:01 a.m. traveling eastbound on U.S. Highway 70 in the San Jose area. The vehicle was identified as possibly being involved in the theft of an Echo chainsaw from Home Depot on Monday.
Knowing the vehicle was registered to an address in Morenci, a Graham County Sheriff’s Office deputy searched Highway 70 and Highway 191 to the Greenlee County line without locating the suspect.
The deputy then returned to the San Jose area at about 12:43 a.m. and came upon the suspect’s vehicle. The suspect vehicle then took a circuitous route through Memory Lane, Church Street, and Alvillar Road, eventually traveling onto a farm ditch road beside a canal that led him back onto San Jose Road. At that point, according to a Sheriff’s Office report, Rodriguez turned off his lights and began traveling at a high rate of speed.
The deputy had simply been following the vehicle and had yet to activate any lights or sirens. As the backup arrived, the deputy initiated a traffic stop with full lights, accompanied by an additional Pima Police officer with his lights and emergency siren activated. Rodriguez declined to yield, however, and instead continued to drive on Church Street and Memory Lane before coming to a stop just east of the 1700 block of S. Church Street on Memory Lane. Rodriguez then got out and began fleeing on foot.
The deputy gave chase and, according to his report, caught Rodriguez about 20 feet from the car and tackled him to the ground. The deputy and Pima officer then placed Rodriguez in handcuffs and took him into custody. A subsequent search of Rodriguez’s vehicle turned up the stolen chainsaw in the trunk.
When asked about his erratic driving, Rodriguez allegedly said he saw the deputy and became nervous. Rodriguez was examined for DUI purposes, but no signs of impairment were shown. He was then arrested for a DUI warrant out of Greenlee County as well as a new charge of unlawful flight from a pursuing law enforcement officer. Possible theft charges are also forthcoming from Thatcher. Rodriguez’s car was towed from the scene and placed on a 20-day impound due to Rodriguez’s license being suspended for DUI.
