LEA COUNTY, N.M. — A long pursuit by a couple of New Mexico counties ended with Robert Ortiz and Amber Dawn Rogers-Johnson being arrested after 12,000 fentanyl pills and two pounds of meth were suspected and seized from a backpack.
According to a Lea County Drug Task Force press release, on Nov. 9 at 1:30 a.m., agents with the LCDTF attempted a traffic stop on Ortiz and Rogers-Johnson on US 380, just west of Tatum, N.M.
Ortiz did not stop and continued to drive towards Texas. LCDTF says that is when Yoakum and Gaines County officers were notified.
The pursuit was terminated because of safety concerns, but 20 minutes later, authorities with the Yoakum County Sheriff's Department located Ortiz's vehicle near US 380 and State Line Road.
Yoakum County officers pursued Ortiz's vehicle into Gaines County and that is when a passenger pulled out a pistol from the passenger's side window and fired shots at deputies. LCDTF says no officers were hurt from the gun fire.
Gaines County deputies joined the pursuit and advised other officers that items were being thrown from the vehicle.
The chase ended up in Hobbs, N.M. and that is when Ortiz crashed his car and both him and Rogers-Johnson exited the vehicle and ran.
LCDTF says both were then caught and arrested.
Yoakum County officers caught up to items that were thrown from the vehicle and found a black backpack and two pistols.
In the backpack, LCDTF said 12,000 suspected fentanyl pills and two pounds of suspected meth were seized.
Ortiz has outstanding warrants for failure to appear, trafficking a controlled substance, conspiracy, possessions of a controlled substance and felon in possession of a firearm or destructive device.
Rogers-Johnson has warrants for possession with intent to distribute, conspiracy and possession of a controlled substance.
Both were booked into the Lea County Detention Center.
