California murder suspect arrested in New Mexico
New Mexico State Police officers arrested a California murder suspect on I-40 near Santa Rosa.
A California homicide suspect wanted on a murder warrant was taken into custody Thursday morning following a coordinated high-risk traffic stop on Interstate 40 in eastern New Mexico, according to the New Mexico State Police.
At approximately 6:30 a.m. July 16, 2026, officers received information that 27-year-old Raymond Garcia, a homicide suspect wanted out of San Bernardino, California, was traveling westbound on Interstate 40 aboard a commercial motor vehicle. Authorities said Garcia was considered armed and extremely dangerous.
Officers learned the suspect was approaching Mile Marker 300 on Interstate 40, which is east of Santa Rosa, and soon located the commercial truck traveling westbound.
State police and the Santa Rosa Police Department stopped the truck near Mile Marker 276. Because of the potential danger posed by the suspect, westbound Interstate 40 was temporarily closed.
The truck’s driver complied with officers’ commands, exited the vehicle and was detained while authorities conducted their investigation. The driver informed officers that Garcia was his co-driver and remained asleep inside the truck’s sleeper compartment.
Authorities said officers repeatedly ordered Garcia to exit the vehicle, but he initially refused and barricaded himself inside the cab. Following continued negotiations and numerous commands, Garcia eventually surrendered.
Garcia was booked into the De Baca County Detention Center on the California murder warrant.