Anchor Babies In The News: Report claims man beat and kidnapped girlfriend before chase, crash

8/27/2014

Court documents are revealing more about the events leading up to a reported kidnapping and police chase that ended in a multiple-vehicle crash in southeast Albuquerque Monday night.

Police arrested 36-year-old Daniel Romero after he refused to pull over and drove into oncoming traffic, resulting in a collision with four vehicles on Avenida Cesar Chavez near I-25. According to the criminal complaint, officers learned Romero's girlfriend was being held against her will inside the car and believed she was in danger.

Two weeks ago, the U.S. Marshals Service added Romero to its most-wanted list in New Mexico, stemming from multiple warrants for his arrest.

After the incident, police spoke with Romero's girlfriend at UNM Hospital. She told them Romero "flipped out" after an argument with another man and said he began to beat her, according to police.

Romero allegedly told his girlfriend he would take her to the hospital, but once she was in the car, the woman said he threatened to kill her.

The woman tried to jump out of the moving vehicle, but said Romero grabbed her by the hair and pulled her back inside.

When police began to pursue Romero on Gibson SE, the woman said he began to panic. As he attempted to avoid a spike strip on Avenida Cesar Chavez, Romero crossed over the median and hit several vehicles.

Two women from the vehicles were taken to the hospital for minor injuries, according to police.

Officers arrested Romero and reportedly found heroin in his pants pocket.

According to the criminal complaint, Romero admitted to arguing with his girlfriend but said it was never physical. He said he had an outstanding warrant and did not want to go back to jail.

KOB spoke with Romero's mother, whose house Romero and his girlfriend were at prior to the ordeal, and she said she "didn't know what happened there because they left happy."

She also denied Romero had hit his girlfriend. "Not here; Danny knows better. I would have stepped up to that," she said.

Romero faces several charges in connection to the incident, including aggravated battery, kidnapping and aggravated fleeing a law enforcement officer.

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