Farmington, NM – Farmington police responded to several traffic crashes involving alcohol early Saturday morning. At approximately 2:39 a.m. officers were dispatched to the 3000 block of Sunset Avenue in reference to a vehicle that had crashed into a resident’s wall then fled the scene. Officers located the suspect vehicle and initiated a traffic stop in the area of 32nd Street and Sunset Drive. As officers attempted to approach the vehicle, the suspect drove off. The vehicle continued to travel south on Sunset in a reckless manner and at a high rate of speed. The suspect, later identified as 19-year-old Bryan King of Farmington, eventually drove into the north parking lot of Farmington High School. Officers successfully stopped King but he attempted to leave again and struck one of the police cars with his vehicle. King then exited his vehicle and ran. Officers quickly caught up with him and placed him into custody. King was charged with aggravated DUI, resisting/abusing an officer, fleeing and evading an officer, leaving the scene of an accident, and other related traffic offenses.
At approximately 4:36 a.m. officers were dispatched to the 3000 block of Cliffside Drive in reference to a vehicle that had crashed into a yard. Officers arrived on scene and found that the vehicle had struck a light pole and severed it in half. The 17-year-old male driver had fled on foot prior to officers arriving. The suspect returned to the scene later. Officers conducted an investigation and subsequently arrested and charged the driver with DUI and related traffic offenses. He was transported to the San Juan County Juvenile Detention Center.