Center Police arrest wanted suspect after a foot chase 

CENTER — Center Police Department officers arrested a wanted man after a foot chase through yards and alleyways on Jan. 22.

CPD Reserve Officer Adam Fresquez observed the suspect Jonethan Lopez, 31, of Center, who was wanted by CPD on an assault with a weapon warrant, in the yard of his grandmother’s home on Garcia Street.

The warrant stems from an assault upon a female victim who was stabbed in the facial area with a knife.

According to CPD Chief Dale Meek, “Lopez ran first into the residence and then south through the yards. Sgt. Fresquez, Officer Guaderrama and I were called into work. The Rio Grande Sheriff’s Office and the Saguache County Sheriff’s Office also sent deputies to assist us. A perimeter was set up and Lopez was tracked to an empty trailer on the dirt portion of Washington Street. Lopez was located and placed under arrest for his assault with a weapon warrant. A second warrant is suspected to be in the court process as Lopez had missed court on the previous narcotics trafficking and resisting charges from the previous week.”

Chief Meek added that a female caller to CPD dispatch attempted to mislead officers searching for Lopez by deliberately and falsely reporting that Lopez was running in the opposite direction from his actual path of travel.

Meek also said that the "call was recorded, is currently being compared to similar calls and I expect charges to be filed against the female caller within the next couple of days.”

Lopez was arrested and booked into jail. The suspect has recent arrests in Center for suspicion of harassment-domestic violence, trafficking narcotics and resisting arrest.