DEMING – A 53-year-old Deming man is facing multiple felony and misdemeanor charges after police say he stole a Deming Fire Department ambulance, burglarized its secured medicine cabinet, and led officers on a brief pursuit Tuesday morning.
According to the Deming Police Department, officers responded at approximately 7:35 a.m. Tuesday, July 14, to a delayed report of a possible stolen ambulance from the Deming Fire Department at 309 South Gold Street.
Officers located the ambulance near Pine Street and attempted a traffic stop. Police said the driver failed to stop and continued until the vehicle was brought to a stop near the intersection of Spruce and Tin streets.
The driver, identified as Alfredo Zuniga Gonzalez, allegedly refused lawful commands and resisted arrest before officers took him into custody.
During the investigation, officers searched the ambulance with the consent of Deming Fire Department personnel. Investigators determined that a secured medicine cabinet inside the ambulance had been burglarized and that controlled morphine stored inside had been accessed. Police said no other items were reported missing from the vehicle.
During a search of Gonzalez following his arrest, officers reportedly found a small bag containing a substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine.
Gonzalez was transported to Mimbres Valley Hospital for medical clearance before being booked into the Luna County Detention Center.
He is charged with:
- Burglary (Non-Residential), a fourth-degree felony
- Burglary of a Motor Vehicle, a fourth-degree felony
- Battery Upon a Peace Officer, a fourth-degree felony
- Assault Upon a Peace Officer, a misdemeanor
- Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine), a fourth-degree felony
- Possession of a Controlled Substance (Prescription Morphine), a fourth-degree felony
- Unlawful Taking of a Motor Vehicle, a fourth-degree felony
- Three counts of Resisting, Evading or Obstructing an Officer
- Driving Under the Influence of Drugs
The investigation remains ongoing, and no additional information has been released.
All persons mentioned are innocent until possibly found guilty by a court.
By: John Krehbiel – Bravo Mic Communications, LLC – john@bravomic.com
