This happened just a mile from my house......
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – A highway in the East Mountains has reopened after it was shutdown for hours Saturday afternoon. Deputies say a man barricaded himself inside a business, then the business burned down.
Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Deputies say around 1 p.m., 38-year-old Marcio Lujan barricaded himself inside ExerPlay – a playground equipment company – along North Highway 14, about three miles north of I-40.
BCSO says Lujan was stealing from the Burger Boy restaurant up the road, when staff confronted him he ran across the street and stole a car from a man named Less Schumann.
“Next thing I know, he jumped into my car tried to run me over, barely missed me, I dove out of the way and he ran up to the building that you can see behind me that’s on fire,” said Schumann.
BCSO says Schumann’s car had a kill switch that stopped it from going more than a few dozen feet south on Highway 14.
It came to rest outside ExerPlay, then Lujan went inside and barricaded himself.
“The male refused to exit the building,” said Bernalillo County Sheriff Manuel Gonzales.
Deputies arrived and attempted to get him out.
“Then the man fled on foot while being interviewed, but was apprehended moments later,” said Gonzales.
At some point, flames erupted from ExerPlay and the building burned down.
The Bernalillo County Fire Department responded. The building appears to be a total loss.
Lujan was taken into custody without any injuries. He’s being charged with arson, aggravated assault, burglary and a slew of other charges.
North 14 reopened shortly after 7 p.m.
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