Suspect nabbed after hours-long standoff

A felony suspect who barricaded himself in a van in the middle of the busy South First Street corridor in Tucumcari after a low-speed chase Friday was apprehended by police nearly five hours later.

After two flash grenades detonated near the suspect's van had no apparent effect, a New Mexico State Police robot rolled up to the vehicle and held a canister containing a teargas variant into its driver's side window.

The suspect crawled out of the window, where he was grabbed and detained by a slew of state police officers in tactical gear. A smattering of first responders and witnesses applauded as the man was arrested.

Court records identified the suspect as Edwin R. Corrales, 40. Tucumcari Police Chief Patti Lopez initially identified him as a Mexican national, but court records also state he resides in Glendale, Arizona. Lopez initially identified him as Edwin Ruben Corrales Gonzales.

Corrales briefly was examined by emergency medical technicians in a nearby ambulance after his arrest, then placed into a Tucumcari Police squad car.

According to court records filed Monday, Corrales was charged with armed robbery, aggravated fleeing of a law enforcement officer, criminal damage to property (over $1,000) and resisting, evading or obstructing an officer.

Three of the four counts are felonies. The most serious charge, armed robbery, could lead up to nine years in prison and an $18,000 fine.

Lopez said the initial call about the suspect came at 10:29 a.m. Friday after Corrales and a male passenger in the van, later identified in the complaint as Paul Klander, became embroiled in an argument as they were traveling from Arizona to Florida.

Corrales brandished a machete at the passenger, who exited the vehicle in an area of South Second Street behind the Allsup's convenience store, Lopez said. The complaint states that Corrales robbed Klander of $2,000 in cash.

Local police tried to speak to Corrales, but he refused. He began a low-speed, intermittent chase with officers in the area, including circling around the McDonald's restaurant and Desert Inn motel on South First Street. A sheriff's deputy placed a spike strip behind the van, flattening its rear tires.

At one point during the stop-and-go chase, Lopez said Corrales backed his van into one of the police cars.

Lopez said a Tucumcari police officer suffered a cut hand trying to push aside a broken window in the van. She said the injury wasn't serious.

Corrales finally stopped his vehicle in a center turn lane of South First Street, where he barricaded himself inside.

"He refused to come out because he thought we would shoot him," Lopez said.

Several police vehicles boxed in the van to keep it from moving. According to the complaint, Corrales went into the rear of the van and closed a cage behind him. Klander told police he believed Corrales had a gun.

Dozens of law enforcement vehicles - including those from state police, city police and the Quay County Sheriff's Office - closed several blocks of South First Street during the standoff. Ambulances and a Tucumcari firetruck also were on standby.

City employees in their vehicles blocked off streets and provided traffic control. Police ordered onlookers to stay about a block away, fearing they might be hit by possible crossfire.

Officers were seen pointing their guns at the van while others took defensive positions behind their vehicles.

Klander told police he met Corrales online about a week ago in Phoenix, and Corrales hired him to do "mechanical stuff." They agreed to drive to Miami to meet up with Klander's friends and left Phoenix at 7 a.m. Thursday.

"Paul stated Edwin and him smoke methamphetamine on their way there, alternating between who would drive," the complaint states. "Paul also stated Edwin smoke Fentanyl on the trip."

Klander said Corrales had been awake for six days but refused to sleep, "continuing to smoke bowls of meth."

During the standoff, Lopez said several officers tried to negotiate with Corrales by phone and urged him to surrender.

By mid-afternoon, officers twice tossed flash grenades that exploded with a large bang near the van. State police soon brought two tactical vehicles to the scene.

Finally, a NMSP robot holding a canister containing a teargas variant reached through a driver's side window into the van, prompting Corrales to crawl through the window and show his hands. A state police officer explained the robot held the canister aloft to keep it from accidentally setting fire to trash inside the van.

Traffic was reopened about 4:30 p.m. after Corrales' van was towed away.

Magistrate Judge Noreen Hendrickson found probable cause for the charges, and Corrales remained in custody at the Quay County Detention Center on Monday.

No other court hearings had been scheduled, nor had an attorney been assigned for Corrales.