Tip led Santa Fe cops to armed fugitive

SANTA FE (KRQE) - An Arizona jail escapee took off from Santa Fe police Thursday prompting three schools to lock down and a callout for the SWAT team that ended peacefully.

U.S. Marshals tipped off Santa Fe police that Jairo Contreras, 20, who was considered “armed and dangerous,” was in the Santa Fe area.

Contreras, booked into the Maricopa County, Ariz., jail on Jan. 13, broke free by hiding in an oversized laundry cart, according to authorities.

He was behind bars on minor burglary charges and was supposed to be released on a work furlough. Arizona law enforcement officers then tracked his girlfriend’s cell phone to an address in Santa Fe.

Santa Fe police had a description of the car Contreras was suspected to be driving.

“When our officers found the vehicle, they tried to pull him over and he got away from them,” said Lt. Louis Carlos.

Carlos said Contreras then fled on foot and barricaded himself inside a home near Anna Jean Court and Camino Rancho Siringo. Police said the home belongs to Contreras’ girlfriend, who was inside with at least one child at the time.

Carlos said she and the child were called out of the home as SWAT was called in.

“Because of Contreras’ history, he escaped, he's an escapee and the fact he was armed, this was a heightened response by our agency,” said Carlos.

Three nearby schools--Santa Fe High School, De Vargas Middle School and Nava Elementary School--were placed on lockdown as a precaution.

After a short SWAT standoff with officers, Carlos said

Contreras surrendered without a fight. No shots were fired.

Contreras is waiting to be taken back to Arizona where he will face more charges, according to authorities.

Marshals said Contreras’ girlfriend could also face charges if the investigation finds she helped him in any way.KRQE News 13 will have more on this story on afternoon and evening newscasts and will update this report as more information becomes available.