Two charged after armed burglary and high-speed chase through Rio Rancho

Two people were charged Dec. 20 after an armed burglary in Bernalillo led to a multi-jurisdictional pursuit through Rio Rancho and an arrest at a Sagecrest Loop residence, the Sandoval County Sheriff's Office says. The incident has underscored concerns about home invasions and public safety in neighborhoods near Highway 550.

According to the criminal complaint, deputies were alerted to a burglary on Edith Road involving two armed men who left the scene in separate vehicles. A deputy positioned at State Road 313 and Highway 550 spotted both vehicles. One driver immediately turned onto Old Highway 44 and fled, prompting a pursuit. The other vehicle stopped in a dirt clearing on Santa Ana Road north of Highway 550, where the deputy held the driver at gunpoint while waiting for backup.

The complaint describes a chaotic exchange in which the stopped driver refused repeated commands to turn off his vehicle and remain inside. He became agitated, attempted to leave the vehicle, then drove away, making a U-turn and passing the deputy onto Santa Ana, then onto U.S. 550. Deputies report the driver crossed multiple lanes, ran three red lights and continued west toward NM 528. Deputies discontinued the high-speed chase after the driver ran a red light exiting at Safelight Boulevard and the deputy lost sight of the vehicle.

A motorist in a Lexus later told deputies his car had been struck by the suspect vehicle. Rio Rancho officers located an abandoned vehicle at the Speedway on Northern and Unser boulevards. Witnesses saw a male driver and female passenger run from the scene while removing items of clothing; both ran toward a nearby housing complex and broke into a residence in the 2100 block of Sagecrest Loop.

Inside that home, the pair stripped further, took clothing from the residence to disguise themselves and hid a firearm in a closet, the complaint states. Both were arrested at the scene. The man was identified as Dante Mitchell, 36, of Albuquerque, and the woman as Keianna Aguilar, 23, of Los Alamos. A third male suspect was not captured and remains at large.

Mitchell faces a slate of charges including aggravated fleeing from law enforcement, aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence, concealing identity, leaving the scene of an accident, driving while license revoked, two counts of possession of a controlled substance and aggravated battery. Aguilar was summoned on aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence and concealing identity. Police say Mitchell had drugs on him and an invalid license; both suspects refused to identify themselves when asked. If convicted, Mitchell could face up to 18 years in prison and Aguilar a little more than 10 years.

For Sandoval County residents, the episode is a reminder that burglaries can quickly escalate into dangerous pursuits that cross jurisdictional lines. Law enforcement agencies coordinated to locate and arrest the suspects, but one remains free. Residents should remain vigilant, report suspicious activity promptly to local law enforcement and secure entry points to their homes. Investigations and any court proceedings will determine next steps in the case and whether additional arrests will follow.