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Man Accused of Assaulting New Mexico Police Officer, Deputy

GRANTS, N.M. (AP) — A 20-year-old Iyanbito man has been arrested for allegedly hitting a Cibola County Sheriff's deputy with a stolen van.

Police say Shawnessy Martinez has been booked into jail on suspicion of aggravated battery upon a police officer and two counts of aggravated assault.

He's also accused of vehicle theft, aggravated fleeing from law enforcement and criminal property damage.

The van was reported stolen from outside a bar in Prewitt and that led to a chase.

State Police and deputies followed the suspect to a dead-end road where they say Martinez reversed the van and struck a police vehicle that had an officer inside it.

Police say Martinez drove at and struck a Cibola County deputy who was out of his vehicle and rammed several law enforcement vehicles before being arrested.