ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.–A man allegedly driving a stolen pickup truck crashed into a First Financial Credit Union building here and then forcefully entered the credit union, leading employees to hide.
Around 3:25 p.m., the Albuquerque Police Department was responding to an aggravated battery call at the Power Ford dealership when a caller told police a man — later identified as Steven Gurule — had rammed a vehicle inside First Financial Credit Union on Union Way NE, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court, the Albuquerque Journal reported.
“The complaint said when police arrived, a witness told them the man was at the back of the credit union. Police then arrested Gurule, who was taken to a hospital” before being taken to prison, the Journal stated. “According to the complaint, video surveillance showed a Ford dealership employee was inside the business when they saw Gurule break into his vehicle. The man went to confront Gurule when he hit the employee with a red tire iron and fled in the employee’s pickup.”
The complaint says Gurule then drove to the First Financial Credit Union parking lot and hit a parked motorcycle.
“Credit union employees told police they saw him drive erratically into a handicapped-accessible spot in front of the bank before backing up and ramming the pickup truck into the credit union, hitting a teller desk at the very back of the credit union,” the report stated.
According to the complaint, Gurule then backed up again and drove into the building again before getting out of the vehicle and running to the back.
Employees Run & Hide
“Employees told police they were safely able to get out of the way and hide,” the Journal reported, citing the complaint. “Gurule got out of the pickup and ran, the complaint states, before forcing open a door, causing a woman who was coming in to drop her purse. He took her purse and tried to run before being caught by police.”
Gurule, 32, has been charged with two counts of leaving the scene of an accident, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, robbery, burglary, criminal damage to property and resisting, evading or obstructing an officer.
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