Executive Summary
- A truck driver was arrested for allegedly speeding through the investigation scene of a deputy’s death on I-40.
- The suspect, Taur Mourzagaliev, reportedly refused to exit his cab, leading to a standoff and taser deployment.
- Charges include reckless driving, resisting arrest, and driving with an expired license.
- The incident occurred while deputies were processing the site where Sgt. Michael Schlattman was killed the prior day.
- Court records indicate the suspect has been released on his own recognizance.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Authorities arrested a commercial truck driver on Tuesday morning after he allegedly drove recklessly through an active crime scene on Interstate 40, where deputies were investigating the line-of-duty death of a sheriff’s sergeant. Taur Mourzagaliev, 47, was taken into custody by the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) following a standoff near mile marker 170.
According to the criminal complaint filed by the BCSO, investigators were processing the scene where Sgt. Michael Schlattman had been fatally struck by a semi-truck the previous day. Deputies on site reported observing a different semi-truck traveling at a high rate of speed on the left shoulder without illuminated headlights while continuously sounding its air horn. The report alleges that the driver, identified as Mourzagaliev, cut off multiple vehicles, forcing motorists to brake abruptly to avoid collisions, and utilized the right shoulder to pass traffic.
Law enforcement personnel initiated a traffic stop to neutralize the safety threat. Upon contact, deputies stated that the driver made obscene gestures toward them before retreating into the sleeper compartment of the cab and closing the curtains. According to the arrest report, Mourzagaliev refused repeated commands to exit the vehicle, leading deputies to establish a perimeter.
With charges pending and the driver refusing to comply, officers utilized a window breaker to gain entry to the cab. The complaint notes that Mourzagaliev eventually exited the sleeper area but attempted to move toward the driver’s seat. A deputy subsequently deployed a Taser to incapacitate him, and he was taken into custody after a brief struggle. Body camera footage released by the department shows the interaction and the subsequent arrest.
Mourzagaliev has been charged with reckless driving, resisting, evading and obstructing an officer, failure to maintain lanes, and driving with an expired license, among other traffic violations. Although booking documents list a residence in Michigan, the complaint indicates he holds a Texas driver’s license. Court records show he was released on his own recognizance following booking.
It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Public Safety and Operational Risks
This incident underscores the significant dangers law enforcement officers face while securing accident scenes on major interstate corridors. The alleged conduct highlights the potential for secondary incidents when motorists fail to yield to established perimeters. In a press conference following the event, Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen emphasized the critical need for driver caution in investigation zones to ensure the safety of emergency personnel working to clear fatality sites.
