GRANTS -- A police officer was killed Wednesday when he was struck by a vehicle being pursued in connection with a shoplifting report, state police said.
Officer Lloyd Aragon, who was killed, and officer William Cunningham were laying a spike belt on Interstate 40 in an effort to stop a pickup, which had been reported stolen and was allegedly involved in a shoplifting report in Grants.
"As they deployed the belts, the suspect vehicle continued eastbound, drove into the median and ran over one of our officers," Maj. David Osuna said.
The suspect vehicle pulled off the highway at the next exit, N.M. 6, and went out of control, and the driver was captured nearby, Osuna said.
Zachariah DeWitt Craig, 19, was arrested in connection with the pursuit and the officer's death.
His brother, Aaron Craig, 21, was arrested in Grants after he allegedly bailed out of the pickup after the pursuit began.
The pursuit began after a shoplifting incident was reported from a Wal-Mart in Grants.
When Grants officers checked the reported license number, they found the vehicle was reported stolen and sought the vehicle.
Aragon, an eight-year veteran and a member of the K-9 unit, was married with two young children.
"The best way to describe it is one of our little brothers was killed today," Osuna said.
Aragon and Cunningham were en route to Albuquerque for a court hearing when they stopped to assist other state police officers and Grants officers in stopping the pickup.
Aragon's death was the state police's first in 10 years.
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