A 27-year-old Artesia man accused of stealing a patrol car in April and leading officers on a pursuit through town has been bound over to District Court for a jury trial.
After a preliminary hearing was held in Artesia Magistrate Court Wednesday, 27-year-old Cody Davis was bound over on amended charges, including two counts of the unlawful taking of a motor vehicle valued at more than $2,500; a single count of the unlawful taking of a motor vehicle worth less than $2,500; three counts of child endangerment; a single count of aggravated fleeing from law enforcement; and a single count of assault against a peace officer.

The following charges, all felonies, were dismissed: disarming a peace officer, burglary, battery upon a peace officer, felon in possession of a firearm and possession of burglary tools.

Magistrate Judge Daniel Reyes Jr. heard testimony Wednesday from five witnesses and then heard a closing statement from the defense before deciding enough probable cause existed to bind Davis over to District Court.
A jury trial date has not yet been set.

The charges stem from an incident on April 8 when a witness said just before 8 a.m. he saw a suspicious man, later identified as Davis, jump a fence onto private property and hide in the bushes near Fairground Road, just south of town. A short time later, Officer Quentin Barron with the Motor Transportation Department allegedly saw Davis crossing a field near the area of 2801 S. First St. and attempted to make contact with him.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Artesia Magistrate Court, Davis began throwing rocks at Barron and then proceeded across the field and jumped another fence.
He then allegedly approached a man who was sitting in a pickup reading the newspaper, opened the driver’s side door of the pickup, ordered the man out of the vehicle and attempted to grab the steering wheel. According to the complaint, the man punched Davis two times in the face, causing him to fall to the ground.

At that time, Davis allegedly got up and continued running, the complaint states. As Officer Barron caught up with Davis, he allegedly stole a nearby forklift and again attempted to elude the officer. After numerous commands instructing Davis to get off the forklift, the officer approached the forklift and allegedly attempted to shut off the ignition.

According to the complaint, Davis kicked Officer Barron and Barron subsequently discharged his Taser gun. Davis, however, was able to slip away from the Taser and get into the officer’s parked patrol unit and flee from the scene. At that time, the officer shot out two of the vehicle’s tires in an attempt to stop the fleeing suspect, but Davis was able to continue driving from the scene, traveling north into town.

After Davis fled the area, officers with the Artesia Police Department located him inside the city limits and initiated a pursuit. As Davis continued driving north through town, he allegedly sped through three school zones and eventually approached the intersection of 13th Street and U.S. 285, turned around and began driving back toward town.

Reports indicate that Officer Ray Williams with the Artesia Police Department was able to strike the stolen patrol car two times with his car, eventually causing Davis to lose control of the vehicle near Richey Avenue on 13th Street and crash into a utility pole.
Davis then allegedly exited the car and began to run through an empty field, but only made it about 50 feet before he was apprehended by Artesia police officers.
If convicted on all charges he faces up to 19 years in prison.

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