Farmington, NM – Farmington police arrested 43-year-old Ronnie James of Flora Vista on charges of aggravated burglary, aggravated assault with a firearm, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle and criminal damage to property.

The charges stem from an incident on October 26 when James broke into 4 States Auto Center on East Main in Farmington and took a vehicle from the property. Police were dispatched to the business at approximately 9:47 p.m. in reference to a man, later identified as James, armed with a gun. Officers arrived and found a broken window on the east side of the building. The reporting party informed officers he had returned to the business after running errands and saw James coming out of the back door of the building. James pointed a gun at the employee and verbally threatened him. He was also holding a bank bag containing keys to vehicles on the lot. Prior to police arriving, James fled the area in a yellow Mustang belonging to the dealership. The owners of the business arrived shortly after and reported additional items had been taken. The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office located James and the yellow Mustang in mid-November.

On November 22, detectives with the Farmington Police Department interviewed James regarding the October 26 incident. On November 28, detectives obtained a warrant for for his arrest on charges of aggravated burglary with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault with a firearm, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle and criminal damage to property. James was served with the warrant the same day at the San Juan County Detention Center where he had been previously booked on other charges.