Disclaimer: This article contains information about a criminal act and may be distressing for some readers. Please read at your own discretion.
Albuquerque, N.M. — A high-speed car chase involving Albuquerque police ended tragically when the suspect was fatally shot after a tense hostage situation.
The incident began on June 20, involving 42-year-old Dale Meador, who attempted to evade officers in a stolen vehicle.
The drama unfolded at around 8:30 am when Albuquerque police identified Meador’s Ford Escape behind the Flying J Travel Center.
After officers confirmed the vehicle was reported stolen, they attempted to stop Meador. Instead, he sped off recklessly, weaving through traffic near Central and Coors.
In an effort to halt the chase, police deployed stop spikes on the road. Despite their efforts, Meador continued to flee, eventually pulling into the El Mezquite parking lot.
According to the source, there, he and a female companion abandoned the Ford Escape and quickly entered another stolen truck.
Officers urgently commanded them to exit the vehicle, but Meador once again fled, hitting a parked car in the process.
The chase reached a critical point when Meador drove into a dirt field at 98th Street and I-40. The situation escalated as he held the woman at gunpoint inside a drainage tunnel.
Hostage negotiators and police attempted to de-escalate the situation, initially using non-lethal rounds to try and disarm Meador.
Ultimately, SWAT Officer Zachary Herbst fired the shot that killed Meador.
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Officer Herbst later stated that he believed the woman was in immediate danger of being killed or seriously harmed, and that she had no opportunity to escape the situation.
The woman involved was not charged in connection with the incident. Officer Herbst has since returned to duty.
Meador had a history of criminal activity and was wanted for failing to appear in court related to a previous stolen vehicle case.