Portales police engage in chase

Portales Police pursued a driver in a low-speed chase late Friday night, Capt. Lonnie Berry said.

The incident began when a woman called police, and said a motorist ran a stop sign and forced other vehicles off the road. Police pursued the motorist in question at speeds no faster than 20 or 25 miles per hour north from Elbe Street to just past the intersection of U.S. 70 and N.M. 467, the Cannon Air Force Base Highway, Berry said.

With police following, the 64-year-old Roosevelt County man went through several intersections without stopping before police used a spike strip to blow out his tires.

The driver was able to answer questions but was dealing with medical issues, Berry said. The man was admitted to Roosevelt General Hospital.

The 64-year-old said he was going home, but the direction he was headed was inconsistent with going to his address southwest of Portales, Berry said.

The captain said police are trying to determine if the driver’s behavior was caused by medical issues or his conscious choice before they decide on the next step.

“We do know that his driving was such that he was definitely not safe to be out on the streets,” Berry said.

The man hasn’t been charged with a crime.