PV man allegedly carjacks taxi; arrested by police after high-speed pursuit

Suspect reportedly threatened to shoot taxi driver if she didn’t comply with demands

A Prescott Valley man who allegedly carjacked a taxicab and then crashed the vehicle into a parked truck during a high-speed chase along Highway 69 was arrested Thursday night, May 16, police officials said.

The man, 29-year-old Jose Montoya, had been picked up by the taxicab belonging to Speedy Taxi at a location on the Yavapai-Prescott tribal lands and had asked to be dropped off at the Prescott Valley Motel, according to the Prescott Valley Police Department (PVPD).

When they reached the motel around 9 p.m., Montoya reportedly threatened to shoot the taxi driver if she didn’t leave him the car and her cellphone. Fearing for her life, the driver immediately fled from the vehicle and Montoya drove away with it, PVPD reported.

Officers were able to find the taxi shortly after it was taken and attempted to pull Montoya over along Highway 69 near Fain Road, but Montoya started to quickly accelerate, PVPD reported. This set off a high-speed pursuit first southbound on Highway 69 to Dewey-Humboldt and then northbound back to Prescott Valley.

The chase ended when Montoya rammed into a parked truck in the parking lot of Prescott Valley Motel. Officers were able to take Montoya into custody right after the crash and he was booked into the Yavapai County jail on charges including armed robbery, motor vehicle theft, felony flight and reckless driving.

Follow Max Efrein on Twitter @mefrein, email him at mefrein@prescottaz.com or call him at 928-445-3333 ext. 1105.