New Mexico police rescue woman from car after 'kidnap' text to sister

Albuquerque police arrested a man Monday evening who allegedly kidnapped a woman and fled police in his car before swerving to miss a police spike strip and crashing into oncoming traffic.

Police identified 36-year-old Daniel Romero as the man behind the wheel in the chase.

APD spokesman Tanner Tixier said officers were originally dispatched to the area of San Mateo and Gibson because a caller said her sister had sent her a text message saying she was in a vehicle with a man she had just met, and he was threatening to kill her.

According to Tixier, additional text messages to the sister said the woman had blood covering her face and the man she was with had a weapon and "was going to execute her."

Officers located the vehicle in near Zuni and Wyoming, and after trying to pull the suspect over, he fled.

A PIT-certified officer attempted to disable the vehicle, but the speeds were too high, according to Tixier.

As Romero fled west on Avenida Cesar Chavez, an officer tried to throw a spike strip in front of the suspect's vehicle. Romero swerved to miss the strip, crossed over a median into oncoming traffic, and hit four vehicles, according to police.

Five people were sent to local hospitals for minor injuries; no serious injuries were reported.

The victim inside the car told police there were drugs and weapons in the vehicle, after which police sealed the car until they could obtain a warrant to search it.

Romero had three outstanding felony warrants: one for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Police said they do not know exactly what charges Romero will face, but it is likely he will be charged with kidnapping, aggravated eluding law enforcement and his three previous warrants. Tixier said additional charges were possible.