Albuquerque, NM – On May 16, 2019, at around 7:30 p.m., a New Mexico State Police officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a black Chevrolet pickup occupied by a male driver and a female passenger on Central Avenue near Washington Street in Albuquerque, NM. The officer was one of the 50 officers assigned to the Albuquerque Metro Surge Operation. 

The suspect driver of the Chevrolet failed to stop for the officer, and a pursuit ensued traveling north on Washington Street. The officer attempted a pursuit intervention technique (PIT) to bring the vehicle to a stop. At some point right after the PIT, the State Police officer fired his department issued weapon. It is unknown at this time if any occupants were hit. The suspect drove off and the pursuit continued until the officer’s police vehicle was involved in a crash at the intersection of Lomas and Washington Street with a bystander’s vehicle. The occupants of the bystander vehicle involved in the crash were uninjured.  The officer sustained minor injuries from the crash.  He was transported to a local hospital where he was treated and released. The Chevrolet was located abandoned in an alley near the intersection of Washington Street and Mountain Road. 

The New Mexico State Police Investigation Bureau and the Metro Multi-Jurisdictional Shoot Team Task Force were called to investigate the officer involved shooting. With the assistance of a Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) K-9, a black bag was located by officers in the vicinity of the Chevrolet. The bag contained handguns and narcotics. During the course of the investigation Agents identified Daniel Franco as the driver of the vehicle and Cynthia Franco as the passenger. Cynthia Franco was located and was uninjured from the incident. She was interviewed by agents and released. Agents issued an arrest warrant for Daniel Franco for the following charges:

• Aggravated Fleeing a Law Enforcement Officer (4th Degree Felony)
• Tampering with Evidence (4th Degree Felony)
• Felon in Possession of a Firearm (4th Degree Felony)

He is described as a 5’6” Hispanic male weighing 175 pounds. Daniel Franco has an extensive criminal history of Driving While Under the Influence of Intoxicating Liquor or Drugs in 1996 and 1998. Resisting, Evading an Officer in 1999,  Child Abuse, Aggravated Battery on a Household Member, Assault on a Peace Officer, Resisting, Evading a Peace Officer in 2000, Aggravated Burglary, Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor in 2003, Burglary in 2003, Driving on a Suspended License in 2004, Aggravated Battery on a Household Member, Tampering with Evidence in 2012, Assault on a Peace Officer, Resisting, Evading a Peace Officer in 2013, Felon in Possession of a Firearm in 2016, Several court appearance violations in 2016, Probation Violation, Resisting, Evading a Peace Officer, and Larceny in 2017. 

If you know the whereabouts of Daniel Franco please contact NMSP at (505) 841-9256 option 1 or 911. 

The State Police officer’s name will not be released at this time. This case is still under investigation with no additional information available at this time. The officer will be placed on a standard administrative leave. When more information becomes available State Police will send out an additional press release.