SAN SIMON — A man suspected of carjacking a pickup truck just across the New Mexico line was arrested in southeastern Arizona on Friday after the passengers forced him out of the vehicle, according to New Mexico State Police.
Police said it began shortly after 12:30 p.m., when officers responded to a report of a man forcing his way into a pickup truck hauling a camper just east of the Arizona-New Mexico border and threatening to kill the driver and passengers.
By the time officers arrived, the pickup was gone. They found an abandoned black GMC Yukon parked facing the wrong way on a westbound Interstate 10 off-ramp. New Mexico State Police said the Yukon had been stolen from Tempe.
Officers headed west on I-10 into Arizona because they were the closest law enforcement. At 1:15 p.m., they found the pickup in San Simon, where the passengers had managed to force the man out of the truck, police said.
Police identified the man as Samuel Goodrick. He was arrested and taken to an Arizona hospital for evaluation.
Investigators also learned the Yukon’s registered owner had been found severely beaten in Tempe and remains on life support, according to AZFamily. Police said it is unclear whether Goodrick is connected to the theft of the Yukon or the assault. Tempe police are handling that investigation.
New Mexico State Police said they will pursue charges for any crimes committed in New Mexico. Goodrick remains in the custody of Arizona law enforcement. He has not been convicted of any crime.
Sources: AZFamily. Thee Arizona Times uses AI-assisted reporting reviewed against the sources listed.
Photo: Toastdebunny / CC0 via Wikimedia Commons.
