Salazar arrested at apartment complex

Copyright © 2008
Gallup Independent
By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — A short-lived burst for freedom ended in an arrest of a man and woman as one allegedly tried to break into a car at an apartment complex in the early morning hours Thursday, in Grants, while police were present at the same complex in response to a different call.

Jonathan Salazar, 28, of 1200 Chavez St., Milan, and Savannah Alonzo, 21, of 1232 Cortez St., Grants, are both charged in connection with one felony count of auto burglary, said Grants Police Detective Sgt. John Castaneda.

“Officers were at the Vista Mesa Villa apartments on another call, and one of the officers heard glass breaking, like a window being broken,” Castaneda said.

“He went to investigate what was happening, because it was 3:45 in the morning and saw a man leaning into a car with a broken window.

“When the man, who was later identified as Salazar, saw the officer’s light, he ran, jumped into a car with Savannah Alonzo in the passenger seat, and took off,” Castaneda said.
After fleeing for about a block, police stopped the car and arrested the pair, he said.

Both the front windows on the victim’s car were damaged and the driver’s front door was opened, Castaneda said.
No court date has been set for a preliminary hearing for either Salazar or Alonzo.

As of late Thursday night, both were in custody in the Cibola County Detention Center on a $20,000 cash surety bond each. Cash surety means that each must pay 10 percent, or $2,000, in order to be released on bond.

To contact reporter Jim Tiffin call (505) 285-4560 or e-mail: jtiffin.independent@yahoo.com.