TEMPE, Ariz. — A suspect was arrested after allegedly stealing a car in Tempe last Friday before leading police on a chase then crashing.
Rodrigo Aguilar, 44, was arrested on multiple counts, including armed robbery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, theft of means of transportation, unlawful flight from law enforcement, hit-and-run and endangerment.
According to police documents released Tuesday, Aguilar allegedly carjacked a black 2017 Ford Fusion from a Circle K near Baseline Road and Priest Drive around noon on Friday.
He allegedly approached the male driver while he sat in the driver’s seat with the door cracked open.
Police said Aguilar pulled the door completely open, pulled a black semi-automatic pistol and pointed it at the victim from about one foot away.
Aguilar allegedly demanded the vehicle and threatened him numerous times that he would shoot him if he did not turn over the vehicle.
The victim exited his vehicle and police said Aguilar got into the driver’s seat and fled the scene at a high rate of speed.
The victim told the information to a Tempe police officer, who was in the same parking lot during the alleged carjacking.
About a minute later, Tempe Police dispatch received numerous 911 calls about a hit-and-run collision.
Police said the crash involved a black passenger car going approximately 90 mph that caused a 3-vehicle collision at Mill Avenue and the U.S. 60, and fled the scene northbound on Mill Avenue.
An investigation at that scene revealed Aguilar allegedly intentionally rammed the stolen vehicle through three other vehicles in an effort to escape the scene.
Eight minutes after the alleged carjacking, Tempe police found the car near Broadway Road and McClintock Drive in Tempe.
The stolen vehicle was observed by an officer traveling at a high rate of speed eastbound on Broadway Road and failing to stop at numerous red traffic lights.
Police tried to pull Aguilar over but he allegedly fled the stop at a high rate of speed in an "obvious attempt to elude pursuing law enforcement," police said Tuesday.
Marked and unmarked police vehicles followed Aguilar through Tempe and Mesa as the stolen vehicle drove on the wrong side of the roadway, failed to stop at traffic lights and stop signs and showed disregard for other motorist and citizens, police said.
Mesa Police officers performed a Pursuit Intervention Technique maneuver on the fleeing vehicle near Dobson Road and Guadalupe Road in Mesa.
As a result of that, the vehicle lost control and caused a crash with three other vehicles.
Aguilar then exited the driver’s seat of the stolen vehicle and fled the scene on foot.
A foot pursuit was then initiated by officers, ending in Aguilar being tased and taken into custody.
Aguilar matched the suspect description from the initial alleged carjacking and was wearing a Dallas Cowboys Jersey with the number 24 on it and had horns and other tattoos on his face and head, police said.
After Aguilar was detained, police said the victim positively identified him as the suspect who carjacked him at gunpoint.
Aguilar was taken to a local hospital for treatment, but was released on Monday and was arrested.
Aguilar allegedly admitted being involved in the incident, but stated that there were “gangsters that wanted to kill him” so he approached the victim and asked for the car.
Police said Aguilar himself is a documented criminal street gang member.
Multiple other drivers were transported to the hospital but all are expected to be OK.
