Santa Fe, NM – May 25, 2025 — A chaotic and dangerous series of events unfolded Saturday evening in Santa Fe, resulting in the arrest of a suspect who allegedly resisted arrest, assaulted a peace officer, and attempted to disarm him during a pursuit near the Santa Fe Place Mall. The suspect, now identified as Alejandro Daniel Gallegos, was taken into custody after a prolonged foot chase, multiple confrontations with officers, and a tense attempt to flee in an occupied vehicle.
At approximately 6:44 p.m. on May 24, 2025, officers from the Santa Fe Police Department were dispatched to Santa Fe Place Mall at 4250 Cerrillos Road after receiving a report of a robbery. A female caller stated she was at the food court when she reported that she had been “robbed.” She later explained the incident had occurred earlier at her residence in the 4200 block of Big Sky, where a male suspect known to her as “Alexander” had unlawfully entered her home, taken clothing, and then stole her purse from her vehicle.
The suspect was described as approximately six feet tall, wearing black pants, white high-top shoes, and carrying a black bag. Although the caller initially reported the suspect was at the mall, she later left the scene and returned home. However, mall security informed responding officers that the suspect, “Alexander,” was believed to still be in the area.
An officer patrolling nearby soon spotted a man matching the suspect’s description near the Hobby Lobby, riding a bicycle. The officer began tailing the suspect as he headed northbound on Cerrillos Road, then westbound on Airport Road, refusing to stop despite repeated commands via lights, sirens, and public address system.
The pursuit escalated as the suspect continued to evade law enforcement by riding against traffic on the sidewalk, weaving through commercial areas, and eventually fleeing into the Chamisa Center parking lot near Zepol Road. Officers made several attempts to stop him, deploying a Taser device that successfully caused the suspect to crash his bicycle.
As the officer tried to handcuff the suspect, Gallegos resisted arrest, refusing to follow verbal commands and refusing to lay on the ground. The officer used a drive stun with the Taser to gain control, managing to secure the suspect’s left wrist in handcuffs. However, just as the officer attempted to fully restrain him, the suspect lunged at the officer and initiated a violent attack.
During the struggle, Gallegos allegedly attempted to tackle the officer and disarm him by reaching for the officer’s duty weapon in its secured holster. The officer fought back with physical strikes, ultimately preventing Gallegos from seizing the firearm. Gallegos then broke away and ran toward Center Drive, where an occupied vehicle was stopped.
In a dramatic moment, the suspect attempted to force his way into the vehicle, entering on the passenger side and ordering the driver to flee. The driver, a bystander uninvolved in the incident, refused to comply and informed responding officers that he did not know Gallegos.
A sergeant arriving on the scene deployed another Taser, allowing a second officer to move in and cuff Gallegos’ right wrist. Still refusing to comply, Gallegos was eventually restrained with the help of a third officer who arrived moments later. He was then taken into custody without further incident and transported to a local hospital, where he was medically cleared for booking.
The Crime Scene Unit responded to document evidence from the multiple locations involved in the pursuit and arrest. Gallegos was later booked into the Santa Fe County Adult Detention Center and charged with the following:
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Attempt to Commit a Felony (Unlawful Taking of a Motor Vehicle)
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Attempt to Commit a Felony (Disarming a Peace Officer)
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Battery Upon a Peace Officer
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Resisting, Evading, or Obstructing an Officer
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Concealing Identity
Authorities also discovered four active warrants for Gallegos’ arrest stemming from prior charges, including:
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Battery against a household member (SFPD Case #2025005348)
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Shoplifting over $250 (SFPD Cases #2025005345, #2025005347)
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Shoplifting and Resisting (SFPD Case #2025005346)
Following his arrest, officers contacted the original caller to follow up on the initial burglary complaint. The woman informed police that upon returning home, her stolen items had been left on her front door. Despite previously identifying Gallegos and reporting the theft, she declined to pursue charges, stating she “did not want anyone to get in trouble now that she got her property back.”
As a result, no charges were filed related to the initial burglary, and the focus of the case has shifted entirely to Gallegos’ conduct during the pursuit and arrest.
This incident, documented under SFPD Case #2025005339, illustrates the dangers officers face during encounters with violent and non-compliant suspects. It also highlights the ongoing challenges related to repeat offenders and the importance of community cooperation in criminal investigations.
Authorities continue to encourage the public to report crimes and cooperate with investigations to ensure community safety and justice.