Contributed Photo/Courtesy GCSO: Justin Smith, 20, has been charged with illegal flying, stolen transportation, and underage DUI in pursuit of law enforcement.

John Johnson

john johnson news@gmail.com

Thatcher – An electrical contractor was shocked to learn he was not in Mexico after being arrested by Thatcher police after being chased by car and on foot on Sunday.

20-year-old Justin Blake-Smith was arrested and placed in a Graham County adult holding facility on charges of underage DUI, evading law enforcement, and stealing transportation.

Officers were initially alerted to the situation around 10:30 p.m. when a resident reported a truck driving into his property and acting suspiciously. While officers were searching the truck, a resident called Stacey and said he was back at his home off the lane.

Upon arrival, Thatcher’s officers noticed a white Ford F-250 pickup truck spinning in the resident’s driveway. According to the police report, as the officers approached, the truck accelerated toward the police cruiser and turned just before the collision.

Officers then pursued Ford as he sped west on 8th Avenue, blew a stop sign at the intersection with 1st Avenue, and headed south. The truck then reportedly entered the northbound lane and forced the northbound vehicle over the shoulder to avoid a collision.

The truck then entered the Quail Ridge lot and parked at 1581 S. Cactus Wren. A white driver, later identified as Smith, was seen getting out of the truck and running to the residence at the address.

Officers continued in pursuit and at one point fired a taser, but to no effect. However, when the suspect ran behind, officers caught up with him at the fence and took him into custody without further incident. I noticed.

Officers spoke with other residents in the residence and learned that they worked for an electrical contractor and that Smith was from Alabama. The business owner then spoke with officers and demanded that Smith be charged with transport theft because he did not have a permit to use the company’s work truck.

During an investigation into a police DUI, Smith told officers he thought he was in Wilcox and repeatedly requested that he be put in a US prison instead of Mexico. After reassured him, they transferred him to the Graham County Adult Detention Facility on charges of theft of transportation, illegally escaping law enforcement, and driving under the influence of alcohol.