File Photo/Courtesy of DPS: Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers detained a reckless driver Tuesday morning who was suspected of being driving under the influence after a high-speed pursuit from Safford to Peridot.
John Johnson
john.johnsonnews@gmail.com
GRAHAM COUNTY – A New Mexico man was arrested after a police chase in Graham County from Safford to Peridot Tuesday morning. No injuries were reported during the pursuit.
Suspect Giovanni Casillas, 29, of Deming, New Mexico, was arrested at approximately 7:51 a.m. in the Peridot Area of the San Carlos Apache Reservation after the pursuit ended near milepost 271 on U.S. Highway 70.
The pursuit began after Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers, responding to an attempt to locate an erratic driver (ATL), stopped a 1999 Chevrolet pickup truck that was driving recklessly on Highway 70. Troopers initiated a traffic stop at approximately 7:06 a.m., but the suspect initially yielded to troopers before speeding off westbound on Highway 70.
DPS media relations specialist Bert Graves said officers initiated a pursuit that was ultimately called off due to the suspect vehicle's reckless driving and speeding.
However, a deputy from the Graham County Sheriff's Office also joined the pursuit, and the suspect, later identified as Casillas, allegedly attempted to ram the deputy's vehicle.
DPS resumed the pursuit, which ended at milepost 271 on Highway 70. DPS used spike strips to disable the vehicle near the Bashas home after crossing a bridge over the Gila River where Gila and Graham counties meet.
According to police radio traffic, Casillas reached speeds of over 90 mph during the pursuit and crossed into oncoming traffic multiple times. He continued to flee after one of his tires struck a stop bar and then a second tire blew out, eventually coming to a stop in Peridot.
Graves said officers believed Casillas was under the influence of drugs and took him to a local hospital for evaluation.
Charges are pending in this morning's incident, but Graves said Casillas has outstanding warrants for his arrest elsewhere, including a felony warrant out of Texas.
