Alert Officers and Quick Communication Assist in Apprehension of a Teen Suspected of DWI and Vehicular Homicide
By Officer Tasia Martinez
Fast response and excellent communication resulted in the immediate capture of Albuquerque’s most recent vehicular homicide offender on Monday.
Rayano Smith was killed after being thrown off of the hood of a vehicle following an altercation over a DWI hit and run crash after Smith’s parked vehicle was hit by DWI suspect, 16-year-old Tyler Jiron. Jiron drove with Smith holding on the hood of his vehicle and then sped off without rendering aid when Smith was thrown to his death.
Now, the 16-year-old is behind bars at the Albuquerque Juvenile Detention Center on charges of vehicular homicide and tampering with evidence. Jiron was arrested shortly after the homicide took place when he caused a major collision on Interstate 25. No one was hurt in this second crash, but it gave police the opportunity to catch up with the fleeing homicide suspect. It was a diligent Valley Area Command Officer who first noticed that Jiron and his wrecked vehicle matched the description in a citywide broadcast over police airways in search of the homicide suspect. That same officer sustained a broken hand while attempting detain a violent and disruptive Jiron who resisted arrest on scene.
Jiron was investigated and booked by the APD DWI Unit after causing the crash and blowing a .16 percent, more than twice the presumptive level of intoxication in the State of New Mexico. While he was being booked on the DWI, the Valley Field Officers were contacting homicide about Jiron. Homicide Detectives worked tirelessly and diligently over the next 36 hours to locate witnesses and secure enough evidence to obtain an arrest warrant to book Jiron on the vehicular homicide charge. Thanks to the thorough investigation of the Homicide Unit, Jiron never had a chance to walk free before facing the new felony charges.
“This is a great example of alert and diligent officers working together to make a quick apprehension while also conducting a thorough investigation.” Albuquerque Police Deputy Chief, Paul Feist said. “ It is also an example of how the mixture of alcohol and driving can result in the senseless death of an innocent person and tragically affect a young person’s life forever.”
