Lake Havasu City AZ — On August 31, at approximately 2:07 p.m., Lake Havasu City Police Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a silver Chevrolet Cruze in the 1400 Block of McCulloch Boulevard. 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.

A high-risk traffic stop was conducted on the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle refused to exit the vehicle. The driver was inside the vehicle for approximately 35 minutes, threw various drug related items out of the vehicle, and rolled the windows up and down several times.

The Lake Havasu City SWAT team responded to the scene and ultimately removed the driver from the vehicle. SWAT officers used a diversionary device that emitted a loud noise during the removal and the driver was arrested without incident. The driver was identified as 34-year-old Alexander Romero, a resident of California.

Further investigation revealed the vehicle was stolen from Baldwin Park, California. The license plate was found to be stolen from a vehicle in Chino, California. Numerous items of drug paraphernalia were located inside the vehicle.

Romero was transported to the hospital and will be charged with unlawful flight from a pursuing law enforcement vehicle, possession of stolen property, resisting arrest, driving on a suspended license, and possession of drug paraphernalia.