AMARILLO, TEXAS -- A Colorado man has been arrested in Randall County after he sent a Texas Ranger on a chase.
A Texas Ranger was driving south on Loop 335 in southwest Amarillo when he attempted to stop a vehicle for reckless driving that forced the Ranger to take evasive action to avoid collision. The driver of the vehicle took off as the Ranger approached the vehicle.
The suspect vehicle exited Loop 335 and turned west onto FM 2186 and lost control. The driver, then exited the vehicle and took off on foot into a residential area. Deputies with the Randall County Sheriff's office joined the search and found the suspect near Red Wing Road in the backyard of a home. The suspect, who has been identified as Jesus Raul Lopez, 22, of La Junta, Colorado was taken to the DPS office in Amarillo where he was interviewed by Texas Rangers.
Authorities learned that Lopez had several felony warrants in reference to an aggravated robbery that happened on January 22, in La Junta. It was also discovered that the vehicle Lopez was driving was stolen during a car-jacking in Lamar, Colorado on Monday. It is suspected that he may have been attempting to conduct a car-jacking of the Rangers vehicle during this incident.
Lopez, has been booked in the Randall County jail on felony charges of evading arrest with a motor vehicle, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, possession of a controlled substance (cocaine), possession of marijuana. In La Junta, he has been charged with aggravated robbery with a weapon and reckless endangerment. An additional charge is expected to be issued by Lamar, Colorado authorities on Wednesday to aggravated robbery with a weapon in conjunction with the car-jacking.
