Authorities say an 85-year-old New Mexico man led Grant County sheriff’s deputies on a high-speed chase and was caught only after lighting a cigarette and losing control of his car.   

The Silver City Sun-News reports that Silver City resident Frank Jimenez was arrested early one Wednesday following reports that he was driving erratically in the Grant County Detention Center parking lot.

According to authorities, Jimenez took off from the parking lot, fled from deputies and drove up 120 miles per hour. Deputies say he even waived at other drivers he passed.

When the deputies caught up to him, authorities say Jimenez was sitting in his vehicle, calmly smoking his cigarette.

He is facing a number of charges.

It was unclear if he had an attorney.

Source: Las Cruces Sun-News, http://www.lcsun-news.com

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This Little Piggy’s Not Yours

A former New Mexico shoe salesman accused of biting off part of his girlfriend’s toe has been arrested again, this time for allegedly stalking the woman and trying to cut off her big toe with a cigar cutter.

Santa Fe police say the incident was the third attack by 27-year-old Daniel Anaya on his now ex-girlfriend, who has moved to Albuquerque and had obtained a restraining order against him after two previous toe-biting incidents.

Police say Anaya, who used to work as a shoe salesman at a department store, tracked down the woman at her new home and attacked her, but she was able to fight back with a metal fork and escape.

Anaya was arrested that evening after he returned to Santa Fe and sought emergency medical treatment.

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The Toilet Pipe Bandits

Police say bandits are hitting up Albuquerque public restrooms and running off with metal pipes that automatically flush toilets. 

KOB-TV reports that Albuquerque police commander Will Roseman says authorities have seen a rash of thefts involving Flush-O-Matics. He says the toilet pipe bandits are going into restrooms and taking the metal out.

Police believe the thieves hit up businesses by posing as plumbers. According to authorities, the pipes sell for around $30 on the black market but cost businesses about $400 to replace.

A police report says at least one Albuquerque-area recycling plant has been buying the stolen pipes.

Source: KOB-TV, http://www.kob.com