A 35-year-old man wanted on a warrant for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon ended his Sunday night drive in handcuffs after deputies say he refused to stop in Far East El Paso and instead headed home. The driver, identified as Mario Alberto Marquez, allegedly kept going at a moderate speed after deputies tried to pull him over near Bachimba Drive and North Darrington Road, finally stopping at a residence in the 13600 block of Bachimba Drive, where authorities say he was arrested without incident and booked into the El Paso County jail.
How the stop unfolded
According to KFOX, the El Paso County Sheriff's Office says deputies attempted the traffic stop at about 10:20 p.m. Sunday near Bachimba Drive and North Darrington Road, just north of Horizon City. Instead of pulling over, the sheriff's office says Marquez continued driving at a steady clip toward a home in the 13600 block of Bachimba Drive, where deputies moved in and took him into custody without further confrontation. KFOX reports that the mugshot associated with the arrest was credited to the El Paso County Sheriff's Office.
Charges and booking
Jail records show Marquez was booked into the El Paso County Downtown Jail on Monday. He faces charges of evading arrest or detention with a vehicle and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, with a bond listed at $30,000, as reported by KTSM. The booking information indicates the outstanding warrant traces back to an incident on April 9. As of Tuesday morning, he remained in custody.
What the charges mean
Under Texas law, refusing to stop for a peace officer is not just a bad idea; it is a crime. Using a vehicle to flee can ratchet up the penalties, as laid out in Texas Penal Code §38.04, summarized on Justia. That statute allows an evading arrest offense involving a vehicle to be prosecuted as a state jail or third-degree felony in certain circumstances. Aggravated assault involving a deadly weapon is defined under Texas Penal Code §22.02, which is published by the Texas Legislature, and is also prosecuted as a felony.
Context in Far East El Paso
Traffic stops that turn into brief pursuits are not exactly rare in Far East El Paso. Last summer, authorities arrested a DWI suspect following a late-night high-speed chase that ended with similar evading charges, as per Hoodline. Local reporting has noted that deputies sometimes choose to locate a vehicle and make arrests at a residence later, in an effort to cut down the risk to nearby drivers and residents.
For now, Marquez remains in custody while prosecutors review the case, and upcoming court records will spell out any additional charges and hearing dates. The El Paso County Sheriff's Office has not released further details about the April 9 incident that led to the warrant, citing an ongoing investigation, according to KFOX.
