We heard a big old crash and my homie one that got hit with by a Buick. He just the guy took off running in a wrench. >> He should have went through her car and I looked inside and nothing but brand new bottles of liquor. >> Terrified. She's never going to trip overnight. My baby's my daughter. >> Sunday, June 9th, 2024, Albuquerque, New Mexico. At 6:15 p.m., a violent crash at the intersection of Grape Avenue Southeast and Wallace Street Southeast shook a quiet residential neighborhood. What at first just looked like another traffic accident quickly revealed a deeper story. Alcohol, a driver on the run, and a symbolic twist that tied everything back to the loss of a close family member. I'm Tyler and this is your daily dose of crime. >> Sheriff's office, stop right there. Put your hands up. You have any weapons? >> No, I didn't. >> Go ahead and walk towards me. God, >> I wasn't a part of it. >> Go to the front of my unit. >> This lady can see I was not a part of it. >> Hold on. Go to the front of my unit. >> Oh my god. >> You don't have any weapons on you? >> Not that I know of. [Applause] >> I don't know where they >> Okay, we'll talk in a second. Go and put transparent back. >> These are just going on for now. After we talk, they might be able to come off. Okay. the other day. >> I wasn't with him. >> Minutes after the crash, witnesses report that the driver had taken off on foot wearing a red t-shirt and denim shorts. With that description, officers spread out through the neighborhood and soon detained a woman in similar clothing. But it wouldn't take long for them to realize she was not the person they were looking for. You told me to run down the alley cuz the people in the red shirt took off money from the alley. So, I came over here to make sure nobody went through there. >> Okay. Well, you understand why I'm going out with you, right? Yeah. I have a red shirt on. Okay. Hold on. Go ahead and just sit in the front of my unit. >> Okay. So, what's the situation? >> Just I was over here planting the garden right here at my homiey's house, a friend, and we heard a big old crash and I ran down there to see what happened. And my homie was the one that got hit with by a Buick by some Buick car. Mhm. >> So then he said that the guys took off running this way. So I took off running this way to try to see if they ran this way. And then that's where I stand. >> Okay. What did they say the guys look like? >> Just it was just a Buick there. The guy was wearing a red shirt. >> It was two males. >> I don't even know. He just said the guy took off running in a red shirt. That's all I know. >> So we I just came running this way and then that's I just wanted to make sure that people didn't run that way. >> Okay. They told you they took off eastbound. >> Yeah. They were over there and they took off this way through the alleyway. >> Okay. This female is wearing a red shirt and blue jeans, black shoes. I'm just going to get your information. Um, turns out we're looking for someone with some shorts on, but you can I hope you understand why I went out with you. All we heard was a female with a red shirt on and I saw you walking down the road. Okay. Okay. Yeah. Watch. I'll get your I'll take the cuffs off and I'll get your info. So, you live right here on the corner of the house where the crash happened here. Yeah. >> So, you didn't actually see the crash happen? >> No, I didn't heard it. >> Okay. Neighbors Point East saying they saw the driver hopping fences and cutting through backyards. That detail confirmed over radio made it clear the first woman wasn't their suspect. The real driver was wearing blue denim shorts, not long pants, and had bolted straight out of sight. >> And you didn't see the guys running? It was your friend who told you that two guys left running from the car. >> Is this your vehicle, sir? My son was driving. This is my car. >> What's that? >> My son was driving my car. >> Oh, he's the one that's getting evaluated over there. >> Okay, cool. >> So, the other vehicle's on the other side. >> 1 2 3. >> Are you okay? >> You were in the red truck. >> Did you get t-boned or did you get hit by the like in the back? I just saw them coming from the side. So like they hit me. >> No, no, I hear you do. >> Do you have a driver's license? >> Uh in the truck. >> Fine. Just relax. >> I'm just asking questions real quick. Um you know what city you're in? >> Albuquerque. Okay. So you tell me. >> Okay. I think you show me how many quarters are in a dollar. >> And can you tell me the date? You mean my probation offic? >> Are you on probation? Yes, sir. That's fine. Just I'll look it up and everything. I mean, you're a crash. >> Just let them check you out and I'll come talk to you in a bit. Okay. >> Was that 96? >> Is this your truck, sir? >> My truck. >> The white one is yours? >> Was it occupied or is anybody inside it? >> Nobody in it. >> Okay. No, I hear you. Cool. >> Yeah, I'm going to get everything. Don't worry about it. >> The accident itself was clocked at 6:15 p.m. at the intersection of Grape and Wallace. Investigators determined that the blue Buick driven by the suspect had run a stop sign and t-boned a Ford F-150 heading south with a right of way. The force of the impact spun the truck into a parked white pickup that had nothing to do with a flow of traffic. That chain reaction explained both the severity of the injuries and why neighbors had rushed out of their homes when they heard the crash. >> You said nobody was in the vehicle, correct? >> Cool. Is this vehicle under your name? >> No. >> Wait, it does have registration or anything from it belong to a He died. >> Who bought the vehicle? >> I did. >> Do you have a driver license with you? >> Yes. >> Can I see it, please? >> Yes. >> So, I could just put you down as the owner of this one? >> Yes. >> Hey, where do you guys live? >> On the other side. So, quick question. Do you want us to tow the vehicle? >> I work on cars. You work on cars. All right. You You just You can do just do me a favor. Just try to take it out of the roadway for me, please. >> As soon as we're done. Yeah. Uh we'll just move it and then uh we'll go from there. Cool. Thank you. >> Can I talk to you real quick, bud? >> What are you information for? Uh >> third degree math letter. >> Okay, cool. and just contact your probation pro. Just tell them that you had contact with us and you have a card I can give >> and I'll give you a card and everything because obviously you were in a crash. >> So just tell me what happened, dude. >> Did you find or what? >> That's what we're trying to figure out. >> I don't know. Like straight up I don't know. Like I I thought they going to cry on the door. >> Where were you coming from? >> Down that street. Come this way. I just left my dad's. Yeah. >> I went by Irma's. It's the next block. And right when I left there, I was coming back towards my dad's and I saw a car go that way. So I was going by pretty slow and I was going that fast. >> That car just came quick. Like I said, I thought >> So you were heading southbound on Wallace and then that vehicle was coming >> uh eastbound on Grape. >> Yeah. >> In a T-bone crash, the vehicle hit from the side usually takes the worst of it, while the secondary impact shows just how much force carried through. >> I was a little dazed. I was real stunned and I honestly was thinking that they were still going to be there until they all started yelling that somebody in the red jersey just took off running. And that's when some of my people right there they saw that's when I told them hey go that way that they ran that way and then that's when I barely started trying to run that way trying to get >> and then they >> that lady and that other Nissan she she told me and I was just like man my bad like I just got hit so like I couldn't think straight right off the rip you know I thought they were still going to be there and then she should have went through her car see if her purse was there this and that. So that's when I I was like oh yeah take back to the car. I went and I looked in it. That's when the paramedics got there at the am fire department. And I looked inside and nothing but brand new bottles of liquor. Little manager was brand new on no perish, no nothing like that. No phone. >> I didn't see I mean I didn't go through it all crazy crazy, but that's just the first things that I noticed. I was just thrown right there. >> Those guys in the fire truck, they were walking up. >> Yeah, it looks like we have them identified. So >> is a guy or a girl? Wow. >> We I don't know. Uh that's what they're doing right now. Obviously, another deputy is going to conduct the uh criminal charges. I'm conducting the what what happened with the crash. Okay. >> Do I stay here? >> Yeah, just stay here for now, dude. Uh so I can get you a report number and everything. >> Okay. No need to break from us. >> The Ford driver tells officers he's on probation. In New Mexico, that doesn't make him a suspect, but it does mean everything has to be documented by the book. Any incident, even when you're the victim, can land back in front of a judge. That's why officers take extra care to record every detail of his statement, making sure there's no doubt he had the right of way. >> So, they ran this way, right? >> Yeah. She to my house and she jumped the fence the phone. You want the phone? >> What? What was she wearing? >> Uh, red chair and a shorts. >> What color shorts? >> Like that one? >> Like blue? >> She was screaming. 293. >> You can see the shoes like behind the the wall. >> She and she so she ran like >> Yeah. She jumped the fence and you go somewhere. >> Yeah. >> Color shirt shorts are the girl wearing that you wear. >> You want the phone? >> Yeah. I'll go. I'll go look. >> Oh, this is her phone. >> Yeah. And that's the shoes over there. I'm just going to call I'm going to I'm going to 911 on on our Fender's phone so I get her 49 communications. This is Christine. Somebody help you. >> Hi, it's 209. Can you transfer me south, please? >> Sure. One moment. >> Thank you. >> Feel free to answer back. >> Hey, I'm going to I'm going to call 911 off the offender's phone. Can you answer it? 357. >> Hang up. >> 17. >> You want me specifically to answer it or anyone? >> I I don't care who answers it. I just want I just want to make sure before I call 911 that you guys like know. >> Okay. Yeah. Just when you when you get it, just let them know that it's you. >> All right. Thanks. >> Okay. Some neighbors try chasing after the suspect while others peek into the abandoned Buick. Inside, they spot several empty alcohol bottles, a strong clue that the driver had been drinking. For investigators, the pieces were adding up fast. A runner leaving the scene, booze in the car, and a need to find her before evidence disappeared or she slipped further away. All they needed now was her phone to lock down her ID. But would it really be that simple? RTC vis Gomez of BCS. So I was just trying to get some information off a phone number. >> Yeah, absolutely. Uh what is your main number? >> It's 209. >> And uh what's your case or call number? >> It's uh uh all I have is a phone number. So it was a crash. She fled on foot, but she dropped her uh she dropped her phone. Hold on. Somebody's trying to call her now. Sir. >> Hey. >> Yeah. Got uh I've got 49 on that that the on that phone number. >> All right. What is it? >> Uh it's a And if it makes it easier, I have your for you. >> Yep. Go ahead. >> All right. Well, I appreciate I think that's all I need. I think we got him identified. A quick check confirms that the phone belongs to Leticia Lucero, directly tied to the owner of the blue Buick. >> Male answered the door. There was a female in the background. They're refusing to come outside and talk to us. >> There's a Tia there right now. >> Hi. >> Hi, ma'am. Can I talk to you for a minute? We're at the sheriff's office. >> Hi. >> Um, are you able to come out and talk to us? >> Yeah. What's the problem? >> Go ahead. >> 104 female just stepped out. What's the name? >> Okay. Um, >> yeah. Well, I was fixing to go back right now, so just give me a second. Okay. >> Temple. Stay here. Want to stay here with us? >> Yeah. >> Go back in house. Just Just come walk over here for a minute. >> Okay. Can I grab my phone right there? >> We want you to go back in house just for safety reasons. It's part of our procedure. >> I know, but my grandb babies are in there. Let me grab my grandbabies at least to make sure they're okay. >> How old are they? >> My granddaughter, my I have three, 15, 10, and then our parters check on them real quick. >> Yeah, but I want to check on them. They're my I haven't done anything wrong. So, I'm not going to be held here cuz I haven't done anything wrong. You just said you were going to go back though. >> Yeah, to go check on the vehicle. That vehicle's under my name. >> But I haven't I haven't done anything. >> Okay. >> Okay. So, I'm just going to go check on my grandb babies. >> You were in that vehicle or >> No, but I'm going to go check on my grandbabies real fast. >> Well, you you were just inside and then there's a male inside. Correct. >> There's no man in there. It's my grandson. He's only 14 15. >> Okay. Well, I'm sure he'll let us know if there's something wrong with >> I know, but I haven't done anything wrong. >> Okay. Well, we need to talk to you to figure that out. We need to get >> some information. >> Inside the house, a woman answers the door with evasive responses, clearly stalling and trying to shield the suspect before finally giving up the truth. >> Okay. But I'm not going to give no information right now until I cuz I haven't done anything. >> What's your What's your name? >> Okay. So, that you said that that vehicle is registered to you? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, who is using the vehicle? >> Um, that's what I'm trying to find out right now. >> So, you don't know who had your car? >> No. No idea. >> Well, I kind of have an idea, but I'm trying to find out. Like, you know what I mean? I'm trying to find out. I'm a nervous wreck right now. My granddaughter's crying. I just want to check on her. That's all I want to do. >> Okay. Do you mind just keeping the door open? >> Yeah. I haven't done nothing wrong with you, guys. I promise. >> Hold on. >> The search leads them to a house on the 500 block of Grape Avenue Southeast. Not just any home, the one that used to belong to Leticia's late mother, who had passed away exactly one year earlier. For officers, that detail was striking. It explained why Leticia had run straight there after the crash. At first, family members deny knowing her whereabouts, but under pressure, they eventually admit she's inside. That tugofwar between protecting family and facing legal reality is something police see all too often. >> Yep. >> Register. >> Yep. Where's Laticia? >> Boys, don't let him out. >> Sorry. It's in the process of moving out of here. Give me one second. >> Where's Leticia at? >> Ma'am, >> I'm getting her, sir. I'm getting her. She's my baby. Okay. She's my daughter. Hold on. >> Okay. Well, I mean, she just hit somebody and fled. >> She's terrified. She's never been in trouble overnight. You go ahead and step outside my baby. She's my daughter. >> Go ahead and step outside. She >> you don't talk to anybody, she get a lawyer. >> All she wanted was to come. She was terrified. She's never been an accident before. >> You don't get shoes or anything. >> You're okay, mama. >> You're okay, baby. It's fine. >> Wait, wait, wait. >> Wait. She's terrified. She's never been in trouble in her life. You guys can check her record, everything. >> She has never been in trouble in her life. >> Do you want to grab her shoes so she's not walking on the rocks? >> It's not a big deal. >> Here. Here, Mom. Take this. Or let me go with your other one. >> There's no in there. >> I'll talk to you in a second. Okay. I read you Miranda warning on that if you want to. >> Okay, that's fine. >> Leticia refuses to say anything without a lawyer, and keeps her eyes on the floor, a form of passive resistance that officers recognize as total refusal to cooperate. Yeah, if you want >> tables, >> I do give some space to the south. >> Is Jeremiah here too or just be right there and >> Okay, we were just told there was a male and a female. >> No, there's no male here. >> Yeah. No, my daughter's single mother, three kids on the ground. I'm just saying all the all the people that all the witnesses that saw her flee from the vehicle said there was also a male that rent in the vehicle. >> You guys want to come? >> No, it's okay. >> Okay. Cuz just my grandkids and I told him to go to the back room. If you want to come and check, you can. But they're just in there. I promise they stay >> right >> cuz there was no ma'am. >> There wasn't. >> So it was just only her driving. >> I wasn't here. That's what you guys are trying to question me about stuff I do not know. >> I just got here. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> All right. Uh you injured at all? What do you say? No. All right. You're still going to have to get checked out anyway. >> There's no saying that there was an amount. >> Okay. You said there might be a pen in your bra. >> I don't think so. I don't feel anything. >> No. Okay. But I I'm just going to check your bra line. Okay. >> Do you have like a wire bra or a sports bra? I don't know if I have a bra, honestly. >> There's nothing. >> There is nobody else in the car. But I'm going to go check them. >> I know. I'm just saying though. Why he keeps saying that? >> I don't know. I don't know. >> Okay. Move the seat belt for you. Okay. Go ahead. >> Like I said, you already you told me >> I want a lawyer. >> Okay. So, do you not want to talk whatsoever about the crash or anything like that? >> I want a lawyer. >> Okay. I'm not going to read you your Miranda warning then. I won't ask you any questions about the crash. Um, only thing I will ask you cuz I believe you were obviously involved in the crash. >> I want a lawyer, dude. Like, come on, Joe. I want a lawyer. >> Beyond that though, do you where how fast or >> I want a lawyer? What is What >> are you injured or anything? >> Why do you keep asking me stuff? Are you not injured? I want a lawyer. >> Okay. All right. So, back for me. I got to grab your seat belt. >> I'm trying. That's all I could go back. >> Put your head back. >> I'm trying. It hurts. I'm sorry. I don't even know why you guys are send me with this guy if he's being so rude. >> I can't go back anymore. My arms are hurting. >> Okay. >> So, I'm going to take you to the hospital cuz you still got to get evaluated. Okay. You can tell them to off or whatever you want to do, but since you since you were involved in a crash, you need to go to the hospital. Okay. >> I want a lawyer. I never said I was involved in >> I I I understand you want a lawyer. I'm not asking you questions about the crash. Okay. >> Well, then why do you keep talking to me? Just saying. >> Because I'm telling you what you're doing. Okay. I'm telling you where we're going. So, I'm not leaving you in the dark. I'm going to sit you in front of an Intoxilizer, too. Um, I'll read you the implied consent. It's I assume you're going to refuse it with the way you're acting, but I'll still give you the chance to uh submit to a breath test. Okay. >> Finally, the suspect steps out and surrenders without a fight. During her arrest, she insists on her right to remain silent and refuses chemical testing, a choice that under New Mexico law automatically upgrades her DWI to an aggravated charge. For investigators, the case carried a symbolic weight. Leticia had run straight back to her mother's home as if clinging to a piece of the past while facing the fallout of alcohol and impulsive decisions. In court, she would be convicted of aggravated DWI first offense for refusing the test, and the charge for leaving the scene was dropped as part of a plea deal. Her sentence included 48 hours in jail, fines of up to $500, a one-year license revocation with an ignition interlock device, up to two years of supervised probation, and financial responsibility for the damages caused.