LA PAZ COUNTY — A 26-year-old California man was shot to death Thursday by Arizona troopers and a La Paz County deputy after leading police on a 90-minute high speed chase on Interstate 10 from San Bernardino County, California to an exit just west of Quartzite.
Christian Albarran, listed as a resident of Yucca Calif., was driving a white 2006 Ford Focus registered in Quartzite, a small town about 130 miles west of Phoenix, said a release from the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
Arizona state troopers received notice from the California Highway Patrol before 1 p.m. Thursday that Albarran, who had a record of committing violent crimes, was armed with a handgun.
Albanian reportedly had multiple outstanding felony warrants for corporal punishment/spousal abuse, carrying an order to be held without bond, as well as an active felony warrant for credit card fraud with a bond of $250,000. He was on probation for a domestic violence conviction and had an order protection against him, according to the release.
Several California law enforcement agencies had pursued Albarran, beginning within the small town of Yucca Valley, north of Palm Springs, before he entered Arizona.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety received notification from the California Highway Patrol that they were chasing a vehicle driven by Albarran eastbound near the Arizona border, with the chase beginning before 1:00 p.m. Thursday.
Because of the Quartzite vehicle registration on the compact car, California troopers believed he might be headed to that town. Arizona troopers prepared to intercept Albarran on or near I-10, near the California state line.
Arizona troopers and one La Paz County Sheriff’s Office deputy located the vehicle on eastbound I-10 as it exited at Ehrenburg Road at about 2:15 p.m.
Albarran “proceeded north on Ehrenberg Road, where authorities initiated a traffic stop,” the Arizona state police release said.
“Troopers attempted to negotiate with the suspect and gave him repeated commands. The suspect refused to comply.
“While being given orders to keep his hands in sight, the suspect made a rapid and furtive movement indicating a lethal threat to the troopers and the deputy. As a result of the suspect’s actions, troopers and the deputy responded to the threat with lethal force.”
Albarran was pronounced dead at the scene.
An investigation into circumstances surrounding this incident is underway.