News New Mexico: 07/04/12

From KRQE-TV.com - TAOS, N.M. (KRQE) - Police are on the hunt for a man who intentionally rammed his car into a security guard, twice. What was he so mad about? He wasn't let into a bar. Taos Police say the guy was dangerous, making threats he was going to kill everyone, attacking bouncers and the security guard, and then running the guard over. Now they're asking for the public's help finding him. Detective Barry Holfedler showed KRQE News 13 where the attack went down near the Alley Cantina by the Taos plaza. “This is a very, very popular night spot in Taos. Probably the most popular," he said. The cantina was so popular there was a line to get in late Friday night. When bouncers announced no one else would be admitted, witnesses say a man became enraged. “That he was going to his car and get a gun and kill everybody there,” said Holfedler. That’s when David Van Epps, owner of a local security company who was working security that night, stepped in. “The subject spit on the security guard and threw a potted plant at his chest,” said Holfedler. The man then got a crutch out of his car and came at bouncers and Van Epps. Van Epps pulled his gun so the man got in his car, and Van Epps started to walk away. That’s when witnesses say the man plowed into Van Epps, backed up hitting a wall and then slammed into Van Epps again. After the second hit the driver actually backed up and went for Van Epps again, but this time he swerved before he got the security officer. Witnesses say he circled the parking lot, grabbed his girlfriend and took off. The car as a 1993 silver Honda Accord with the plate number 110-RBH, witnesses told police, Cantina manager Mark Geery said Van Epps leg was shattered and the retired military man will need multiple surgeries. “The person who did this was trying to kill him, and if anybody out there knows who this person is, please keep that in mind," Geery said. "This is a dangerous person." Investigators ran the plate and got a hit. Problem is it led them to the old owner of the car. He sold it late last year and the new owner hasn't registered it. Investigators believe the driver is in Albuquerque and was just visiting Taos. Read more