A man wanted by the Midland Police Department for injuring a car salesman during a robbery has been arrested.
Tomas Baeza, 36, of Odessa, was located and taken into custody in Odessa by U.S. Marshals with the assistance of the Odessa Police Department Friday morning. Baeza is charged with aggravated robbery and faces additional charges from OPD for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, tampering with physical evidence and tampering with identification numbers
On Tuesday, Nov. 24, Baeza entered Payless Auto Sales and requested assistance in purchasing a vehicle. A car salesman took Baeza on a test drive and stopped the vehicle to change seats with the suspect near the 700 block of South Midkiff Road. While the salesman exited the vehicle, Baeza quickly moved into the driver’s seat and accelerated, causing the salesman to lose his grip and fall to the ground. The rear tire of the vehicle ran over the salesman’s leg as Baeza fled the scene, causing serious but non-life threatening injuries.
Baeza was transported to the Ector County Detention Center. The stolen vehicle has been recovered.
###Media Contact: MPD Communication Specialist Geena Arevalo