ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Vandals strike an Albuquerque business causing more than $100,000 in damage. When police caught up with one suspect, he said he was just jogging in the area and had nothing to do with the crime. Then police confront him with the security camera video.
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Early in the morning on August 5, Albuquerque Police were called to the Toyota dealership at 5995 Alameda Blvd NE, for reports of two burglary suspects. When they arrived, they saw both suspects with items in their arms, but when they saw law enforcement, they made a run for it. Police eventually found one of them hiding behind a storage container.
Police body camera footage shows the officers telling the suspect to come out from behind the container. The man doesn’t listen to the request and jumps a wall. After a short foot chase, officers tackle him.
They identify him as 20-year-old Daniel Candelaria who tells the police he didn’t do anything. He explained he is an employee at the dealership and was just running by. Officers don’t buy it, questioning why he would be wearing a ski mask out on a run.
Daniel Candelaria: “Is the other guy in custody?”
Officer: “What other guy?”
Daniel Candelaria: “I don’t know.”
Officer: “How’d you know there was another guy if you were just running by?”
Daniel Candelaria: “You were just chasing some guy. That’s why I started running.”
Officer: “What about the ski mask?”
Candelaria was let go that same morning pending the investigation. Surveillance footage shows two men inside the business, stealing items. According to police, they damaged 60 computer monitors and big screen T.V.s. They also damaged a glass door and attempted to steal iPads and personal items from employee’s desks.
Officer: “There’s enough reason to believe that you knew this individual. There’s surveillance of you guys breaking into the place together.”
Daniel Candelaria: “I understand that.”
Candelaria was arrested on a warrant on August 9 and has a status conference hearing set for September 10. He was released pending trial. The second suspect has not been found.
