Man charged after victim dragged from car at Farmington Walmart

A Farmington man faces a slate of felony charges after police say he pulled a driver from a vehicle and dragged the victim while fleeing a Walmart parking lot shortly before 8 p.m. on Jan. 14, 2026. Authorities arrested 24-year-old Thomas Kellwood Jr. following the incident at the Walmart on West Main Street and a subsequent crash into government property fencing.

Farmington police were first called to the store on reports of possible harassment. Officers contacted Kellwood, who appeared disoriented and told officers people were following him. Walmart employees requested he be removed from the property and officers issued a trespass warning. Moments later, officers observed a red passenger vehicle speeding through the parking area with a man clinging to the door and being dragged as the car drove erratically, according to a sworn statement of probable cause filed in Farmington Magistrate Court.

A witness provided video showing the vehicle driving through the lot with the victim hanging onto the door. Another occupant of the car told police Kellwood had approached their parked vehicle, grabbed the driver by the hair and forcibly pulled him out, then allegedly drove off with the victim holding on. Officers later stopped and assisted the victim and located Kellwood.

Kellwood was transported to San Juan Regional Medical Center for evaluation by Drug Recognition Experts. He reportedly admitted to consuming alcohol, marijuana and roughly 30 cc of methamphetamine. Drug Recognition Experts concluded he appeared under the influence of multiple substances and was unsafe to operate a vehicle.

Police booked Kellwood on multiple charges, including robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, two counts of immediate notice of accident, DWI causing great bodily harm, concealing identity, reckless driving and driving without a valid license. He was taken to the San Juan County Adult Detention Center. The case remains pending in Farmington Magistrate Court. All allegations are based on police statements and court filings and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The incident highlights recurring public safety concerns for residents and businesses along West Main Street, a busy commercial corridor where shoppers and workers frequently cross parking lots. Incidents that escalate from trespass complaints to violent vehicle flight underscore intersections between substance abuse, roadway safety and retail security. For community members, the episode is a reminder to report suspicious behavior and for businesses to review exit and employee safety procedures.

Court filings will determine whether prosecutors move forward on the full roster of charges and whether video evidence and witness statements are sufficient to support felony counts. For now, the arrest points to pressing local issues around impaired driving and the safety of public parking areas, with hearings expected to clarify next steps for the victim and the community.