Suspect jailed in deadly hit, run
Police question man in burglary, make arrest after officer struck with rock
A suspect in the hit-and-run death of a man known to his co-workers as “the nicest guy in the world” has been arrested by Santa Fe police.
Police on Thursday booked 40-year-old Edgar Alejandro MendezChavez — who they say has at least eight aliases and two outstanding felony warrants against him — on suspicion of vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of an accident and causing great bodily harm in the June 7 death of Jose Duran Rodriguez, an expectant father and craftsman.
Duran Rodriguez’s brother, Juan, was injured in the accident and is in stable condition at Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center, police said.
Police arrested Mendez-Chavez on Wednesday afternoon following a bizarre incident in which he threw rocks at officers who attempted to interview him in connection to a burglary near the intersection of Cerrillos and Airport roads.
“When they were trying to take him into custody, he started throwing large rocks at the detectives’ heads and actually hit an officer on the head,” Santa Fe Police Lt. Sean Strahon said. “They then tried to take the suspect into custody with
a Taser, but it had no effect on him. He was actually pulling the [Taser] probes out of his body. They were able to get him into custody.”
Strahon said once police brought Mendez-Chavez in for booking, Officer Maria Tena, who had been processing evidence found in the suspect’s truck, immediately recognized him based on identification papers he left in the vehicle.
“She picked up on it right away,” Strahon said. “As soon as she saw him in custody, she ran in and confirmed with evidence that she had just processed that it was the same man.”
He said Mendez-Chavez, who has a Santa Fe address, was being held in the Santa Fe County jail without bond. Police would not reveal more information as the investigation continues, Strahon said.
An affidavit for arrest warrant filed in Santa Fe County Magistrate Court on Thursday provides more details on the hit-and-run incident. The affidavit said Mendez-Chavez was driving a white Dodge truck west on Airport Road at a “high rate of speed” when it struck a Kia Credenza from behind. The truck had been reported stolen from Longmont, Colo., on June 4.
According to the affidavit, the male driver of the Kia lost control of the vehicle, hit the curb and rolled, striking a wooden power pole at the intersection of Airport and Thomas roads. That driver suffered a concussion and was transported to Christus St. Vincent for treatment before being released.
Mendez-Chavez continued west, even after veering into the east-bound lane, and traveled about 800 feet before colliding head-on with a Ford Explorer carrying Jose and Juan Duran Rodriguez, the affidavit says.
By the time police arrived, the occupant or occupants of the Dodge truck were gone, the affidavit says. But officers found a spot of blood on the airbag, as well as other evidence connecting Mendez-Chavez to the hitand-run.
Jose Duran Rodriguez, who was driving the Ford Explorer, was dead, according to the affidavit. His brother suffered a broken arm, broken leg and a concussion.
Jose Duran Rodriguez worked at All New Home Improvement, a Santa Fe-based restoration and remodel company. Co-workers said he was married in April and that his wife is five months pregnant. A native of Mexico, he immigrated to the United States in his teens, they said, and became a legal resident who had recently applied for citizenship.
Daniel Ryan, Jose Duran Rodriguez’s supervisor, said he was happy police arrested a suspect.
“I’ll be happier when the courts do something about it,” he said Thursday.
Jody Feyas, co-owner of All New Home Improvement, said that while he understands the anger many feel toward the suspect, it’s important to focus on the loss of Duran Rodriguez.
“It’s not important to focus on what will happen to him [Mendez-Chavez] or revenge or making sure he gets justice. That’s not going to fix anything,” Feyas said. “He’ll get his karma. Whatever that man has coming to him, will come.
“We just have to remember our loss.”
Efforts to reach Duran Rodriguez’s family members for comment were unsuccessful.