Samuel Pinon, Jr., 30 of Hobbs, New Mexico, was captured after leading Hobbs Police Department officers and Lea County Sheriff’s Department deputies on a car chase through the streets of Hobbs at 4:30 a.m. today (Wednesday). Pinon was a passenger in a vehicle that had been reported stolen from Hobbs on November 1, 2016. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, driven by Donna Philibert, 26 of Hobbs, who accelerated and began driving in a reckless manner by driving into opposing lanes of traffic, running red lights, and at speeds in excess of 90 miles per hour. Officers were successful in using tire deflation devices to stop the vehicle in the area of Broadway and Dal Paso in Hobbs. Pinon, Philibert and one other passenger, Felicia Baca, 31 of Hobbs, all ran from the vehicle and were captured. Philibert attempted to take another vehicle by force but was not successful. Philibert has been charged with Receiving or Transferring a Stolen Motor Vehicle, Aggravated Fleeing a Law Enforcement Officer, and Harboring or Aiding a Felon. Baca has been charged with Resisting, Evading or Obstructing an Officer and Harboring or Aiding a Felon. Both are being held at the Hobbs Municipal Jail pending arraignment at the Hobbs Magistrate Court. Pinon was arrested and is being charged with Resisting, Evading, or Obstructing an Officer in relation to this incident.

Pinon has warrants for a previous police pursuit that occurred on October 28, 2016. During this incident, officers stopped a vehicle for defective equipment near Shipp and Broadway. As the vehicle stopped, the passenger, Pinon, took control of the vehicle by force and held the driver hostage. He then fled in the vehicle leading officers on a high-speed pursuit where he was driving reckless by not stopping for red lights, stop signs, and driving at a high rate of speed. Pinon turned off the headlights and continued driving at high speeds without any lights. He intentionally drove the vehicle into a Hobbs Police Department unit at Midwest and Shipp. Pinon continued to flee and was not apprehended. From this incident, a warrant was obtained through District Court for Aggravated Battery on a Police Officer, Aggravated Fleeing a Law Enforcement Officer, False Imprisonment, and Unlawful Taking of a Motor Vehicle. District Court Judge Mark Sanchez set Pinon’s bond at $300,000.

Pinon was out on bond in four separate cases. Two cases were filed in District Judge Gary Clingman’s court on August 5, 2016. The first case stemmed from an incident on June 3, 2016, in which Pinon was charged with Breaking and Entering and Battery Against a Household Member. His bond was set at $2,500 cash or surety. The second case stemmed from an incident on July 14, 2016, where he was charged with Aggravated Assault, Unlawful Taking of a Motor Vehicle, and Aggravated Battery. His bond was set at $2,500 cash or surety for this incident. The third case was filed in Hobbs Magistrate

Court on August 8, 2016, and stemmed from an incident on August 3, 2016, where he was charged with Child Abuse and Conspiracy to Commit Receiving/Transferring Stolen Motor Vehicle. Judge Craig LaBree set bond at $5,000 cash or surety. The fourth case was filed in District Judge William Shoobridge’s court on October 13, 2016. This case stemmed from an incident that occurred on August 5, 2016, in which Pinon was charged with Aggravated Fleeing a Law Enforcement Officer, Receiving or Transferring Stolen Motor Vehicle, and Resisting, Evading, or Obstructing an Officer. His bond was set at $5,000 cash or surety. Pinon failed to appear in District Judge Shoobridge’s court for arraignment on October 31, 2016. Judge Shoobridge then issued an NO BOND warrant for Failure to Appear.

Pinon is currently being held at the Lea County Detention Center.

(News release from the City of Hobbs Police Dept.)