LAKE HAVASU CITY – What began as a routine traffic stop attempt escalated to a SWAT team incident in Lake Havasu City on Friday, August 30. Police tried to pull over a Chevrolet Cruz in the 1400 block of McCulloch Boulevard shortly after 2:00 p.m.
“The driver of the vehicle failed to yield to the officer’s lights and sirens and led officers on a short pursuit before ultimately stopping at a business in the 20 block of Lake Havasu Avenue,” said Lieutenant Kirk Cesena. He said the driver later identified as 34-year old Alexander Romero of California refused to obey police commands to exit.
“The driver was inside the vehicle for approximately 35 minutes, and threw various drug-related items out of the vehicle, and rolled the windows up and down several times,” Cesena said. “The Lake Havasu City SWAT team responded to the scene and ultimately removed the driver from the vehicle.”
Cesena said the SWAT team used a flash-bang diversionary device that makes a loud noise to distract Romero who was removed from the vehicle without incident. It was determined that the Chevy had been stolen in Baldwin Park in California, and that it displayed a license plate that was stolen in Chino.
Romero was charged with possession of stolen property, resisting arrest, driving on a suspended license, unlawful flight from pursuing law enforcement and possession of drug paraphernalia.
