Man accused of using SUV to run over man

November 20, 2009

Belen police investigate the gray Chevy Trailblazer.

A 21-year-old man was arrested yesterday at Anna Becker Park in Belen after allegedly using his vehicle to run over another man.

Belen Police Department Detective-Sergeant Joe Portio said the man, whose name hasn’t being released, got into a verbal altercation at the park with the other male.

The other male and a blonde female walked away together from the altercation.

Moments later, however, the 21-year-old allegedly used a gray Chevrolet Trailblazer to hit the other male, according to police and witnesses. While doing so, the Trailblazer drove onto a sidewalk and crashed through a chain link fence of a home immediately north of the park.

“This guy in the Trailblazer ran off the road and hit this guy, or tried hitting him. He just went up the curb and hit him,” said Jesse Lopez, who lives at the residence.

“He almost ran over a little blonde girl that was with him. She was hanging off the side of the car and dragged all over the place,” said the homeowner, who didn’t want to be identified.

While the victims appeared to have been unharmed, the girl was taken to an Albuquerque hospital by her guardian to be checked out.

The alleged aggravated battery suspect in a police car.

The driver of the Trailblazer was detained by police, according to Portio, and will be charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon — the vehicle.

The 21-year-old will also be charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He had a minor with him at the time. Police allege both had been drinking.

Portio is still working to identify what role the victims might have played prior to the crash, if any.

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