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On January 2 a vehicle crashed into the local Lava Smoke Shop on Santa Fe Avenue as well as the Lava Smoke Shop’s owner’s vehicle. An individual was apprehended by GPD officers and is said to have been heavily intoxicated. Courtesy Photo
GRANTS, NM – On January 2 at approximately 8:09 p.m. officers with Grants Police Department were dispatched by Cibola Regional Communication Center regarding an Attempt To Locate call.
The ATL was regarding a male subject who was an alleged intoxicated driver. CRCC advised responding officers that the male had crashed into a building, and that he had fled the area.
While enroute to the area, CRCC advised responding officers that the ATL vehicle was a red Dodge truck and was parked in the parking lot of Delta Tire. CRCC continued to give directions to responding officers about where the male was running. Officers conducted a welfare check on the vehicle in the Delta Tire parking lot to ensure no one was trapped or injured inside the vehicle. Upon inspecting the vehicle, officers noted that the vehicle had heavy front-end damage. There was also a large amount of debris, such as cinder blocks, on the hood of the vehicle.
Following the inspection of the vehicle, officers received word that the male subject was found on Stephens Avenue and Smith Avenue. Upon arriving at the scene, officers were debriefed on what had occurred. The male subject, now identified as Elvis Tom, was alleged to have pushed a local business owner who will not be named at this time, while attempting to jump over a fence. While being checked by Superior Ambulance EMTs, Tom allegedly admitted to drinking two cans of alcohol.
Officers then interviewed two local business owners, including the business owner who was pushed, who said that they had allegedly seen Tom when they were at the Allsup’s on Santa Fe Avenue. They said they heard a couple of bangs, went outside and saw the driver heading east on Santa Fe Avenue after hitting a building, getting back off the road, and almost running into Delta Tire. The two local business owners then say they saw Tom allegedly exit the vehicle and take off on foot to which they proceed to follow him. When Tom was attempting to jump the fence that’s when he allegedly pushed one of the local business owners down. During the course of the investigation, it was found that the building that was crashed into was Lava Smoke Shop located at 209 West Santa Fe Avenue.
Officers read Tom his Miranda Warning Advisement of Rights, according to the report, and observed that he had bloodshot watery eyes and a strong odor of intoxicating liquor on his breath. Officers notified Tom that he was under arrest for battery, and driving while intoxicated. The report reads that Tom refused a breath sample. When speaking about what had occurred before the accident, Tom allegedly said that he and a female individual got into an altercation when he left. He said he was going down the road and was turning down the radio when he “took that vehicle.”
Officers then made contact with the owner of Lava Smoke Shop, who had severe damage to their storefront that was visibly over $1,000. The owner said that the male in the truck that crashed into the building was inside the store as well. The owner informed officers that Tom allegedly parked behind his vehicle and entered the store. The owner said that Tom then allegedly purchased an item and got back into his vehicle. Tom was also said to have allegedly hit the owner’s vehicle outside of the Lava Smoke Shop and that the owner observed the crash. The owner also informed officers that he will send surveillance footage of the accident and the male in the store. Upon inspecting the footage officers observe the red Dodge driving over the side walk where Tom allegedly exited the driver’s side of the vehicle. The confrontation between the two business owners and Tom allegedly walking away can also be seen.
Upon inspecting Tom’s driving history, officers say that it shows that he has three prior DWI’s and an invalid revoked driver’s license. Tom was medically cleared and transported to Core Civic. Currently, Tom is charged with seven offenses: Driving Under the Influence, Destruction/ Damage/Vandalism of Property, Simple Assault, Traffic (Leaving the scene of crash with injuries or death), Traffic (Driving revoked or suspended), Traffic (Display current/valid registration plate), and Traffic (Mandatory financial responsibility).