A suspect in a kidnapping and domestic violence investigation, Margarito Arias, led Pinal County Sheriff’s investigators on a chase just before 12 p.m. on Wednesday.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, investigators received information on Wednesday that the 43-year-old Arias was near the area of Shires and Arica road and started to conduct surveillance. When Arias saw detectives, he started to run towards his truck. The investigators identified themselves as law enforcement, giving the suspect commands, but Arias proceeded to get into his vehicle and drove off.
Deputies pursued Arias through the desert area. Arias was driving erratically, nearly hitting PCSO vehicles. PCSO’s air unit was called in to assist in the pursuit. Arias crashed his vehicle roughly 15 minutes later into a fence near Chuichu and Shedd Roads. Arias got out of the car and continued to disobey the commands given by deputies on scene. Deputies shot bean bag rounds at Arias, who was described as extremely combative during the arrest.
“Margarito Arias was wanted for the brutal beating and sexual assault of a woman earlier this month and has been on the run since” said Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb. “Arias is extremely violent. He was out on bond after he attempted to run one of our deputies over back in December during a traffic stop. So we are very thankful that our deputies were able to get him off the street. Hopefully he stays behind bars for a long time.”
Arias is facing a long list of charges to include aggravated assault, sexual assault and unlawful flight from a law enforcement vehicle.