Police chase lands suspect in jail

Just before 2 a.m. March 5, Maricopa Police had a car chase with a suspected drunk driver.

MPD received a call from Arizona Department of Public Safety regarding a report of an erratic driver southbound on 347, entering Maricopa.

“Our units spotted the vehicle because traffic is obviously light that early in the morning,” MPD spokesman Ricardo Alvarado said. “We attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle. The vehicle fled from our officers and started heading towards Santa Rosa Springs.”

The vehicle reportedly hit speeds of 90 mph. Police used a stop stick on the fleeing vehicle and were able to successfully deflate two of the tires during the pursuit. The vehicle came to a stop on the corner of West Plata Street and Rosa Drive in the Santa Rosa Springs subdivision.

The driver, later identified as Roberto Luz, allegedly bailed from the vehicle and was later found in a backyard not too far from the abandoned vehicle.

Reaching speeds of over 90 miles per hour, police utilized a stop stick on the fleeing vehicle and were able to successfully deflate two of the tires during the pursuit. The vehicle came to a stop on the corner of West Plata Street and Rosa Drive in the Santa Rosa Springs subdivision.

The driver, later identified as Roberto Luz, 28, allegedly bailed from the vehicle and was later found in a backyard not too far from the abandoned vehicle. A meth pipe was found near the location where Luz was taken into custody. He allegedly admitted it was his.

Before officers located Luz, a search was conducted on the abandoned vehicle. According to the report, police located 81.7 grams of methamphetamine under the floorboard of the driver’s side. Ten plastic baggies were found packaged, individually labeled with numbers. A digital scale was located among the packages as well. It also noted the vehicle did not belong to Luz.

Luz was booked in Pinal County Jail on suspected charges of possession of drug paraphernalia; possession of dangerous drugs; possession of dangerous drugs to sell; transportation of dangerous drugs to sell; unlawful flight; reckless driving; criminal damage; and trespassing in the first degree.

Four other unrelated warranted were active during the time of Luz’s arrested