Fugitive, girlfriend flee Okla., race through RR, eventually captured in Zia Pueblo
NM officers praised for catching pair
Because she loved him. That’s the reason Jennifer Jean Arthur gave officers as to why she stood by her man, known felon Tyler Steven Allison, after he escaped from Major County Jail in Fairview, Okla., on Jan. 11 — until they were arrested in Rio Rancho two days later. She didn’t know. That’s the other reason she gave authorities as to her involvement in a chase leading numerous law enforcement agencies on a whirlwind, two-day pursuit through Rio Rancho, into Sandoval County, back to Rio Rancho, up U.S. 550 and finally into Zia Pueblo, where they were arrested Jan. 13.
Speeds reached 95 mph and the fugitives drove into oncoming traffic at times, according to court documents.
But Arthur, 30, said she didn’t know her heartthrob was a fugitive.
Before road tripping to New Mexico together, Arthur claimed Allison, 25, called her from jail, said he bonded out and needed a ride to Arizona.
It wasn’t until a “cop” drove behind their vehicle on Unser Boulevard in Rio Rancho, about 530 miles later, that her beloved decided to come clean.
“Ms. Arthur advised that, at this point, Mr. Allison told her that he actually escaped from jail and didn’t bond out,” according to the criminal complaint.
However, Oklahoma officials said Allison and Arthur are known as “frequent fliers” at the jail and found her claim of cluelessness a little hard to believe.
“Uh — really?” said Major County Sheriff’s deputy Gary Swymeler. “When she picked him up and saw what he was wearing — his (jail-
issued) orange bottoms and flip-flops — that would’ve been a pretty good clue he didn’t just bond out. When they release (inmates) here, they give them back their stuff. Including the clothes they were wearing when they were arrested.”
Arthur also insisted she said no, but he wasn’t having it.
According to police reports, Arthur said she told her boyfriend to stop the car when local officials spotted them on Unser, but he refused.
Instead, Allison took off in the Kia Sorento they were driving and led multiple law enforcement agencies on a frenzied pursuit.
Even when the Kia got stuck, Allison said she didn’t jump out or call for help because she “didn’t want to get shot by police.”
Nope — the daring duo decided it was smarter to run from the Sandoval County Sheriff’s deputies, Rio Rancho Police and the Albuquerque Police Department’s helicopter called in to assist with the fugitive hunt.
Despite the massive effort, Arthur and Allison managed to disappear into the darkness. Pueblo residents were told to stay in their homes and lock their doors, and law enforcement set up a perimeter after calling off the search around 10 p.m.
“Ms. Arthur stated that, after evading authorities in Zia Pueblo, she stayed with Mr. Allison throughout the night because she loved him ... (and) slept with Mr. Allison outside until the sun came up,” according to court documents.
The couple’s under-thestars cuddling was shortlived.
The next evening, they slumbered in separate jail cells at the Sandoval County Detention Center. They were booked in after officers captured them perched in a piñon tree at Zia Pueblo earlier that afternoon.
While both cases against the two were dismissed in Sandoval County Magistrate Court, the couple was recently extradited to Oklahoma — and they won’t be cozying up together any time soon.
“With all his old charges and now the escape, it would be safe to say he’s probably looking at 40 to 50 years,” Swymeler estimated. “She’s probably looking at 10 years for assisting with escape.”
Officials said Allison has served several years in Oklahoma prisons for assault with a dangerous weapon, second-degree burglary and possession of a controlled substance. He also has prior arrests for concealing stolen property and firing a weapon from a vehicle.
He was arrested in Major County on Jan. 8 for eluding a police officer, reckless driving and multiple other traffic offenses. He broke out of jail three days later and headed to the Land of Enchantment with Arthur at his side.
In addition to the recent allegation of assisting with her beau’s escape, Swymeler said Arthur faces prior drug charges, use of a firearm during the commission of a felony, receiving and stealing stolen property, and second-degree burglary.
Both suspects have court appearances scheduled Tuesday.
After it was all said and done, Oklahoma authorities had major kudos for the Rio Rancho, Sandoval County and Albuquerque officers who helped capture the fugitives.
“Your guys down there are phenomenal,” said Swymeler. “In all of my 19 years, I haven’t seen anything like it. They were extremely dedicated and stayed on it until the end — just phenomenal.”