A UNM sophomore was run over and kidnapped from Johnson Field early Monday morning.
University police rescued her after a high-speed chase ended in a crash and foot pursuit that the suspect used to give campus cops the slip.
The student was treated and released from University Hospital Monday.
Police arrested 20-year-old Caleb Rogers after he returned to campus with the vehicle's owner who was attempting to collect his Chevrolet Silverado from the campus police department.
When Rogers returned to campus, police say he confessed during an interview to driving the Silverado during the chase.
"We got the call that a pedestrian was hit by a vehicle," said UNM Police Department Cmdr. James Daniels. "We greatly appreciate the witnesses who called us immediately. We were able to get on top of this thing in a matter of minutes."
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
Police were called to Johnson Field shortly after 6 a.m. by witnesses reporting that a red Silverado had struck a woman who was jogging in the area.
Daniels said the student was jogging west along the east-bound lane of Redondo Court, which borders the north end of the field, when the Silverado crossed into the east-bound lane and struck her from behind.
According to an affidavit signed by the responding UNM police officer, witnesses watched Rogers drag the student into the passenger seat of the Silverado and then drive off.
Police began a search for the vehicle and found it stopped in the parking lot directly north of Zimmerman Library, Daniels said. As they approached the vehicle, the driver sped off.
Following at high speeds and through red lights, police chased Rogers west on Lomas Boulevard and north on Edith Boulevard before crashing through a gate at Longfellow Elementary School.
Rogers leapt from the Silverado, and a UNM officer gave chase through residential neighborhoods before losing him, police said.
Inside the Silverado, officers found the student, who was taken to University Hospital and treated for head injuries and road rash, Daniels said.
Later in the day, police contacted the owner of the vehicle, Daniel Alvarado, who reportedly told them he lent his vehicle to a friend who then lent it to Rogers.
Police were granted two search warrants Monday, allowing them to collect evidence from Rogers and the vehicle.
According to search warrant inventories, police took buccal cell and pubic hair samples from Rogers. They also obtained evidence from the Silverado including hair from the driver and passenger seats and a necklace found in the floorboard.
Rogers was scheduled to be arraigned yesterday in District Court on felony charges of kidnapping, aggravated battery, attempt to commit a felony (criminal sexual penetration) and aggravated fleeing from a law enforcement officer.
"We have reason to believe he attempted rape," Daniels said. "We'll see where it goes from here. It's up to the courts now."
Rogers' arraignment yesterday before District Court Judge Frank Sedillo was reset for today because the defendant did not have a copy of the criminal complaint to assist in his defense.
