New Mexico troopers arrest sleeping co-driver wanted for homicide during commercial vehicle stop on I-40

New Mexico State Police (NMSP) arrested a truck driver wanted for homicide through a “coordinated interstate operation.”

At 6:30 a.m. on July 16, NMSP received information that a suspect wanted for murder out of San Bernardino, California, was inside of a commercial vehicle traveling west on I-40.

The suspect, identified as Raymond Garcia, 27, was considered armed and extremely dangerous.

NMSP was provided with a description of the commercial vehicle while law enforcement in California worked to provide updated location information.

The California officers told NMSP that the commercial vehicle was located around the 300 mile marker on I-40. NMSP responded and located the vehicle around mile marker 298.

With help from the Santa Rosa Police Department, troopers conducted a high-risk felony traffic stop on the commercial vehicle on I-40 at mile marker 276 with the interstate closed for safety.

The driver of the commercial vehicle complied with police and exited the truck. He told police that Garcia was his co-driver, who was still asleep inside the sleeper berth.

Police issued commands for Garcia to exit the commercial vehicle, but he barricaded himself inside the cab. Following negotiations, Garcia eventually displayed his hands through the driver’s side window, exited the cab, and was placed under arrest without further incident.

Garcia was booked into the De Baca County Detention Center on the homicide charge out of California.

“This incident highlights the exceptional teamwork, communication, and professionalism demonstrated by the New Mexico State Police and our law enforcement partners. Through the rapid coordination of information, and safe, effective planning, officers successfully apprehended a dangerous murder suspect while minimizing risk to the public and everyone involved,” NMSP said in a news release.