On Tuesday, July 27, 2021, at approximately 4:52 p.m. the Portales Police Department located a stolen vehicle, of which the driver was driving in an manner that was endangering the public by his lone actions. The driver of the stolen vehicle was actively observed committing numerous high speed traffic violations and had been involved in at least one hit-and-run crash prior to officers engaging in a pursuit with the subject.
The pursuit ended with the subject, identified as 19 year old Noel Bustamante of Portales, crashing into a power pole at the intersection of 4th and Abilene Streets. Bustamante fled the scene of the crash and was apprehended by officers quickly after. During the pursuit Bustamante caused damage to at least one other vehicle as debris was thrown due to Bustamante’s driving actions. Bustamante was booked into the Roosevelt County Detention center on the charges of:
Receiving/transferring a stolen motor vehicle,
Aggravated fleeing a law enforcement officer,
Resisting, evading or obstructing an officer,
Reckless driving and
Leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash.
Jodi Diaz
City of Portales, PIO
Portales, NM 88130
575-356-8598
