The Portales, New Mexico Police Department released a statement Wednesday concerning the arrest of Jerry Nale, 18, of Lubbock. Portales PD said Nale turned himself in at the LPD.
The following is the text of the written statement:
An arrest was made this morning involving the fatal traffic crash that occurred in Portales [NM]in the early morning hours of March 29th, 2016.
Lubbock [TX] resident Jerry Nale [18] turned himself into the Lubbock Police Department at approximately 9:00 A.M. May 18,2016 on a warrant obtained by the Portales Police Department according to Detective Charlie Smart. Nale is charged with Aggravated Fleeing a Law Enforcement Officer, Homicide by Motor Vehicle and several other felony charges related to the crash. The warrant was approved after the investigation revealed that Nale was the driver of the vehicle and that while actively fleeing from officers did lose control of the vehicle causing it to roll. Both he and Trinity Jackson[16] were ejected from the vehicle and had to be airlifted to Lubbock[TX] for serious injuries sustained. Ms. Jackson died later that evening at University Medical Center. Ms. Jackson’s younger brother was also in the vehicle and was treated and released into the custody of CYFD until family members could arrive from Lubbock to take custody of him.
Chief Pat Gallegos said that this was an extremely tragic incident and has touched the lives of many on both sides of the families. He also said that anytime a child is lost it effects the officers , investigators and our entire community emotionally.
Detective Smart said that Nale is currently in custody in Lubbock pending arraignment and extradition proceeding.
