Yoakum Co., Lea Co. Drug Task Force seize 12,000 fentanyl pills, 2 pounds of meth
News-Sun staff report
A Hobbs couple who fled into Texas, where they were apprehended by Yoakum County deputies and agents with the LCDTF, who found approximately 12,000 suspected Fentanyl pills and approximately two pounds of suspected methamphetamine and two pistols.
Robert Ortiz, of Hobbs, was arrested and charged on outstanding warrants of failure to appear, trafficking a controlled substance, conspiracy, possession of a controlled substance, and felon in possession of a firearm or destructive device. He was booked into Lea County Detention Center with many additional charges pending from both New Mexico and Texas.
Amber Dawn Rogers-Johnson, of Hobbs, was arrested and charged on outstanding warrants of possession with intent to distribute, conspiracy, possession of a controlled substance. She was booked into Lea County Detention Center with many additional charges pending from both New Mexico and Texas.
At approximately 1:30 a.m., Nov. 9 agents for the Lea County Drug Task Force attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Robert Ortiz, of Hobbs, with passenger Amber Dawn Rogers-Johnson, of Hobbs, on U.S. 380 just west of Tatum.
Ortiz refused to stop the vehicle and fled into Texas on U.S. 380. Yoakum and Gaines County authorities were notified.
According to a LCDTF report, the pursuit was terminated, due to safety concerns.
Deputies from the Yoakum County Sheriff’s Office located the vehicle near US 380 and State Line Road, around 20 minutes later. YCSO deputies pursued the vehicle into Gaines County, and the passenger of the vehicle, later identified as Rogers-Johnson, extended a pistol out of the passenger’s side window and fired numerous rounds at the pursuing deputies.
None of the deputies where injured.
A short time later, a Gaines County deputy joined in the pursuit, and later reported items were being thrown from the vehicle as the pursuit continued.
Ortiz continued until reaching U.S. 62-180, turned west and headed towards the City of Hobbs.
Once the pursuit entered Hobbs, Hobbs Police Officers and deputies from the Lea County Sheriff’s Department joined the chase.
The pursuit continued throughout Hobbs until Ortiz crashed at the intersection of Broadway Street and Coleman Street.
After crashing, Ortiz and Rogers-Johnson fled from the vehicle on foot.
They were both captured and arrested a short time later.
At daybreak, YCSO deputies retraced the pursuit path and discovered a black backpack and two pistols were located, where pursuing deputies thought the items were thrown out of the vehicle.
Anyone with information on drug trafficking, please contact the non-emergency number at the Lea County Communication Authority at 575-397-9265 or call the Lea County Drug Task Force at 575-393-2835.
