November 5, 2021
By News Director Jared Atha
A Sante Fe, New Mexico man was arrested and charged last month after leading law enforcement on a high speed pursuit on Interstate 40.
The probable cause affidavit stated that the pursuit originated in Texas, continued through three counties, and saw speeds reach up to 130 miles per hour.
The court document stated that Elk City Police along with deputies from the Beckham County Sheriff’s Department and Wheeler County, Texas Sheriff’s Department were all involved in the pursuit of 49-year-old Cedrych Steffan Young, just after midnight on October 21.
Records show that the chase originated in Wheeler County in the eastbound lanes of I-40. Once in Beckham County, Elk City Police assisted in the pursuit when the suspect vehicle exited onto Merritt Road, continued north before turning back south at the intersection of Merritt Road and Route 66. The report showed that the vehicle would re-enter eastbound I-40 and began traveling at excessive speeds and up to 130 miles per hour.
Officials say the suspect “brake checked” numerous times causing pursuing officers to take evasive actions to avoid hitting the vehicle.
Later while in Washita County, the suspect reportedly took Exit 47 at Canute but would immediately re-enter I-40 in an attempt to distract law enforcement. However doing this caused the fleeing vehicle to slow down due to congested traffic, allowing a pursuing officer to perform the tactical vehicle intervention move or TVI on the vehicle, sending it into the cable barriers in the median.
Officials were able to quickly apprehend and arrest Young. He would be transported to the Elk City Jail.
A search of the vehicle would find a modified light bulb commonly used to smoke methamphetamine. Residue in the bulb would later test positive to being meth. Police would also find a spring loaded air pistol that appeared to have been modified to appear as a real fire-arm.
Young was charged on October 25 in Beckham County District Court with one count of endangering others while eluding or attempting to elude a police officer, possession of a firearm after a former felony conviction, and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
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