A New Mexico man, already wanted for murder, led police on a chaotic chase after allegedly robbing an Arby’s, stealing a woman’s car, and crashing it. The series of events unfolded with dramatic intensity, captured on police bodycam footage obtained by Law & Crime.
On August 10th, the drama began when officers from the Las Cruces Police Department responded to a robbery report at a local Arby’s. The suspects, a man and a woman, had already fled the scene upon the officers’ arrival.
Police officers investigating a car crash
While en route to the robbery scene, officers received another urgent call: the suspects had carjacked a woman at gunpoint and then crashed her stolen vehicle. The incident escalated the situation, prompting a wider search for the fugitives.
Bodycam footage revealed officers meticulously searching for the suspects near a drainage ditch, acting on a tip. The officers strategized, their conversation laced with tension as they followed potential escape routes.
A police officer looking into a drainage ditch
The search expanded to nearby neighborhoods. Officers maintained communication, coordinating their movements as they meticulously combed through potential hiding places.
About ten minutes into the search, a breakthrough – a man matching the suspect’s description was found concealed within a trash can. The dramatic discovery was captured on bodycam, showing officers cautiously approaching the trash can and ordering the suspect to reveal himself.
The suspect, identified as Zachary Babitz, vehemently denied any involvement in the crimes. He claimed another man and a woman wearing a pink shirt were responsible. Babitz insisted he was merely homeless and had been sleeping in the trash can.
Police officers arresting a suspect
Despite Babitz’s claims, police detained him. His attempts to deflect blame by providing detailed descriptions of the alleged accomplices did little to sway the officers.
The search continued for the female suspect and the supposed other male suspect. A local businesswoman provided crucial evidence: surveillance footage from her business captured the two suspects fleeing the scene.
A security camera footage showing two people running
The footage, time-stamped 6:10 p.m., clearly showed Babitz, running down a hill with what appeared to be a firearm, attempting to break into the business. Moments later, the woman in the pink shirt trailed closely behind him before both disappeared from the camera’s view.
While officers continued their pursuit of the female suspect, Babitz’s past criminal history came to light. A background check revealed a long rap sheet dating back to 2006, including charges ranging from the use of a deadly weapon and parole violations to multiple robberies.
The investigation into Babitz’s past revealed a chilling truth: he had been released from a New Mexico prison earlier in the year after serving time for prior convictions. Months after his release, he embarked on a violent, days-long crime spree.
His spree allegedly included the murder of an 83-year-old man on July 31st. Babitz, still wearing his GPS ankle monitor, robbed a Wells Fargo in Albuquerque, then allegedly cut off the monitor before fleeing to Santa Fe.
In Santa Fe, he allegedly robbed and murdered 83-year-old Gordon Peter Wilson, who was tragically shot and killed outside a Best Buy. Babitz then allegedly stole Wilson’s car to continue his spree, ultimately ending in Las Cruces, where his luck ran out.
With Babitz in custody, the search continued for his female accomplice, who, at the time of this report, remained at large. Authorities have yet to identify or locate the woman, but the investigation remains ongoing.
As for Babitz, he now faces a slew of charges, including murder, carjacking, and firearm offenses. His brief taste of freedom after his release from prison in March of this year has been replaced by the stark reality of facing serious federal and state charges.
