Long distance chase nabs fugitive

ROSWELL, N.M. (KRQE) - A young man lead police on a very long high speed chase, traveling more than 150 miles from Torrance County to Chaves County. Turns out, the driver is a fugitive from another state.

There were several law enforcement agencies involved in catching the driver, later identified as 25-year-old Matthew Evans. By the time he reached Roswell, officers had him surrounded.

State police spotted the suspect's vehicle speeding past officers, and avoiding stop sticks. 

"Our officers did end up spotting the vehicle as it was heading southbound at a high rate of speed, the officer believed it was in excess of 100 mph," explained Captain Dina Orozco, of the New Mexico State Police.

According to State Police, Evans had already been chased for miles. Orozco said it all started Friday afternoon when Evans tried to hit deputies with his car in Torrance County. Deputies there tried to pull him over, but said he sped off.

Evans was clocked driving twice the posted speed limit through Vaughn, ignored police, and continued more than 150 miles toward Roswell.

"The fact that he's been evading all these different agencies does make us more suspicious that there's something wrong," explained Orozco. "He is either a thrill-seeker, or something is up."

The chase was called off due to public safety concerns when Evans reached the city limits. But, Chaves County deputies, Roswell Police, and State Police were on the lookout.    
   
Twenty minutes later, police found the silver car abandoned in the Lovelace Regional Hospital parking lot. Witnesses gave police a description of the driver, and officers chased him on foot through several business parking lots.
     
Police finally caught up to Evans in front of a hotel, and arrested him.

"When the suspect was arrested, he had his brother's identification, and the vehicle was also registered to the brother," said Orozco.

His brother later told police he didn't know Evans was using his ID. Turns out, Evans is a fugitive from Texas, wanted for arson.
     
KRQE News 13 learned at one point, Evans was accused of stealing a car from Indiana, driving it to Waco, Texas and setting it on fire.

State police obtained a search warrant for the car he was driving Friday, and plan to find out if Evans is hiding anything else. So far, Evans is being held in jail on the arson warrant out of Texas, but police said there will be more criminal charges against him in New Mexico.

Torrance County authorities said there were two people in the car when they tried to pull Evans over. Police don't know who that second person is, and ask if anyone saw them to call New Mexico State Police.