Accused child abusers arrested in Tucumcari
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TUCUMCARI — A married couple wanted for felony child abuse in connection with the death of their infant girl in Colorado were apprehended by New Mexico State Police around 4 p.m. Monday near Tucumcari.
Harley Quint Young, 21, was wanted for child abuse resulting in death. His wife, Micah Marie Young, also 21,, was wanted for child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury, officials said.
Colorado authorities were looking for the pair in connection with the death of thier 4-month-old daughter, Alexandria Young-Schmid. Colorado officials on Tuesday night could not immediately confirm the girl's relationship to the couple.
The fugitives were in a 1964 Ford pickup truck on Quay Road AG about 10 miles west of Tucumcari when they were approached by state police.
State Trooper Joey Casarez said Lt. Nathan Wallace of the New Mexico State Police made the initial stop.
“Lt. Wallace was in an unmarked police vehicle and noticed that the truck had no registration plates,” Casarez said. “He then noticed that the woman in the truck looked a lot like the woman in a photo we had received from the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office out of Colorado.”
Garfield County Sheriff Lou Vallario said warrants had been issued for the couple in February following a two-year investigation into the case.
“We had reason to believe they were in New Mexico around Tucumcari,” Vallario said. “That’s why we sent the information down.”
Casarez said that once Wallace came upon the pickup truck he summoned Casarez to the scene.
“Lt. Wallace and I asked the man if he was Harley Quint Young. He said his name was Jonathan Young and knew nothing about any warrants for his arrest,” Casarez said. “We showed him a photo of himself and he admitted he was the man in the photo, but still continued to deny any knowledge of a warrant for his arrest.”
In addition to the felony charges the couple will face in Colorado, Harley Young was also charged with concealing his identity.
Casarez said Colorado authorities told New Mexico State Police last week that Harley Young’s grandmother lived on Quay Road AG. He said that he and Wallace had been periodically monitoring that road.
The fugitive couple are in Quay County Detention Center awaiting extradition to Colorado. Casarez said he is not sure how long it will take for the extradition.
