Man who died in police chase had history of fleeing, assaulting officers in New Mexico

Sean York (Albuquerque Police booking photo)

The man who led police on a high-speed chase and died when his car rolled over and burst into flames in Milton Sunday night was facing an October trial in New Mexico on a slew of charges including armed robbery and assault on a police officer with a deadly weapon, according to a New Mexico court spokesman.

Sean York, 28, formerly of Rochester, died after trying to flee police who had set up a tire-deflating device on Townhouse Road around 8 p.m. Sunday night.

Milton Police had received information from Rochester Police who had learned that York was at a Pineland Park residence.

When York exited the mobile home park and saw Milton officers along Townhouse Road he sped up, drove over the spike mat and led Milton police on a chase north on White Mountain Highway and south on Route 16. With his rear driver's side tire severely damaged he made it to within a mile north of Exit 17 when he lost control of his vehicle, which then slid across Route 16, left the roadway, rolled over and erupted in flames.

He died at the scene, according to officials.

On March 14 New Mexico police say York committed an armed robbery in Torrence County about an hour from Albuquerque.

Three days later as he was trying to elude police he was arrested on the armed robbery charge as well as being a felon in possession of a firearm, aggravated assault on a police officer with a deadly weapon, theft of identity and resisting or obstructing an officer, Michael Patrick, a spokesman for Bernalillo County courts, said today.

Albuquerque Police who arrested him say he nearly ran over an officer at a traffic stop, crashed his stolen car, and then got stuck in a fence while trying to get away.

They said they found a loaded gun near the fence and another in his backpack.

He also was arrested in 2004 in Valencia County for resisting and evading police, Patrick said.

York, whose last known address was Stanley, a small town outside Albuquerque, was slated for a jury trial in Bernalillo County Superior Court on Oct. 23.

He was initially freed pending trial on an unsecured bond, but when he failed to show up for hearings a bench warrant was issued on May 3. A second bench warrant was issued May 17.