SAN LUIS VALLEY— A high speed chase in the early evening of Wednesday, Dec. 26 wound through the streets of Alamosa and Monte Vista before ending after about 45 minutes on Monroe Street in Monte Vista.

The car chase began after Alamosa police officers spotted a brown Jeep without working taillights at the 8700 block of Del Sol Drive in Alamosa. When officers attempted to pull over the vehicle, the driver accelerated going westbound on Highway160 in an attempt to flee from pursuing officers, said Alamosa Police Chief Ken Anderson. 

The Colorado State Patrol tried unsuccessfully to deploy spike strips in an attempt to stop the driver, who drove into Monte Vista at speeds reaching over 40 miles above the speed limit. The driver turned onto city back streets before parking the car at 621 Monroe Street and fleeing on foot. 

The driver was apprehended and identified as Alex Ibarra. A female passenger was found uninjured in the Jeep. Ibarra had two active warrants out of Adams County, and it was later discovered  that the Jeep had been stolen out of Denver.

Agencies involved in the car chase and arrest of Ibarra include the Alamosa Police Department, Colorado State Patrol, Rio Grande County Sheriff and Monte Vista Police Department.

Charges brought against Ibarra include aggravated vehicle theft, vehicle eluding, resisting arrest, obstructing police, reckless driving and speeding of some 40 miles per hour above the speed limit.