Las Cruces man accused of kidnapping girlfriend, leading police on high-speed pursuit
A Las Cruces man faces kidnapping and other charges after police say he threatened and assaulted his girlfriend, then led officers on a high-speed pursuit.
Police say the woman escaped by jumping from a moving vehicle before officers used a PIT maneuver to arrest the suspect
Organ Mountain News report
LAS CRUCES - A 30-year-old man is accused of kidnapping his girlfriend, threatening her with a knife and assaulting her before leading Las Cruces police on a high-speed pursuit Friday.
Jesus Gerardo Moreno Jr. is charged with felony counts of kidnapping, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated fleeing from a law enforcement officer. He also faces a misdemeanor count of interference with communication and four counts of violating the terms of his probation.
Police were dispatched shortly after noon July 31 after receiving a report that a woman had jumped from a moving vehicle and was picked up by another driver who witnessed the incident.
Investigators learned the 28-year-old woman was in a relationship with Moreno.
The woman told police that she and Moreno were in his black Hyundai Sonata at a business near Lohman Avenue when he became upset and allegedly threatened her with a folding knife.
Police said Moreno took the woman’s cellphone when she tried to call for help and prevented her from leaving the vehicle.
Moreno then allegedly drove away with the woman inside, slapped and punched her repeatedly and threatened to stab her, according to police.
The woman jumped from the moving vehicle near Sonoma Ranch Boulevard and East Lohman Avenue around noon. A driver following the Hyundai stopped, picked her up and removed her from further danger.
Later Friday, officers located Moreno driving on West Picacho Avenue. Police attempted to stop him, but he allegedly fled and led officers on a pursuit that reached speeds of 65 mph and caused two crashes.
Officers used a pursuit intervention technique, or PIT maneuver, near the 2500 block of North Valley Drive and took Moreno into custody.
He was booked into the Doña Ana County Detention Center, where he was initially held without bond.
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