Suspected burglar eludes police near Logan

New Mexico State Police were unable to locate a burglary suspect following a seven-hour search Thursday by air and ground on U.S. Highway 54 near Logan.

Capt. Jimmy Glascock said residents in Nara Visa caught a man burglarizing a building around 8 a.m. Thursday. Glascock said the residents called 911 and described the man and the 2005 Maroon Chevy Suburban he was driving.

The suspect was traveling on U.S. Highway 54 when he encountered Logan police officers responding to the 911 call, said NMSP Lt. Lance Bateman.

Bateman said the suspect led police in a vehicle pursuit on Highway 54 onto the Paula Shoenail Ranch five miles northeast of Logan. He said the suspect abandoned the SUV and fled on foot. He was not captured.

Glascock said officers are searching vehicle registrations in hopes of identifying the driver of the Suburban.

Bateman said the Suburban would be towed to the Tucumcari State Police headquarters where a search warrant will be obtained to search the vehicle.