What started as a routine traffic stop in far East El Paso County turned into a short-lived desert escape on foot, authorities said, after two teenagers in a silver Cadillac tried to outrun deputies and ended up at a dead end in Horizon City.
How the stop turned into a chase
Deputies say the drama kicked off around 4:25 p.m. when they tried to pull over the Cadillac after noticing Texas license plates that were allegedly registered to a different vehicle. The driver refused to stop, triggering a pursuit across East El Paso County, according to KFOX14. Investigators later learned the car had been involved in a hit-and-run, and KFOX14 reports there were no serious injuries in that earlier crash.
Where deputies found them
The chase ended when the Cadillac rolled up to a dead end in the 14200 block of Narciso Drive in Horizon City. Both occupants bailed out and ran into the surrounding desert brush, the El Paso County Sheriff's Office said in its account of the response. Deputies, backed up by the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Clint, Socorro, and Horizon City police departments, tracked the teens down and took them into custody.
Desert chases are common in far East El Paso
For deputies working the open terrain east of El Paso, this kind of on-foot search is hardly a novelty. In February, the sheriff’s office arrested two people after a similar pursuit into the desert, KVIA reported. Local law enforcement says loose dirt roads and summer heat can turn simple traffic stops into lengthy manhunts once drivers ditch their vehicles and run.
Charges and booking
Jail records show 18-year-old Joaquin Velarde was booked into the El Paso County Downtown Jail on July 15. He faces multiple counts, including two counts of evading arrest or detention with a vehicle, two counts of evading arrest or detention, and a collision charge for property damage of $200 or more, with a bond set at $87,000, according to KFOX14. The 16-year-old passenger was referred to juvenile authorities as the investigation continues.
Investigators with the sheriff’s office say detectives are still piecing together details of the hit-and-run that happened before the pursuit, and anyone with information is asked to contact the El Paso County Sheriff's Office.
