A 21-year-old man allegedly drove a stolen motorcycle recklessly down a Star Heights area street about a week ago. 

At about noon on May 27, a Rio Rancho police officer was parking on Geraldine Road to conduct traffic enforcement when he saw a black bike driven by a man (later identified as Xavier Apodaca of Rio Rancho) wearing a blue mask and green beanie.  

Apodaca was headed south on Geraldine Road and approached a stop sign at Fifth Street when he turned onto Fifth and started to speed. 

The officer did a U-turn then followed Apodaca who was driving “at a reckless speed” of 50 mph in a 25-mph zone, according to a criminal complaint.  

The officer briefly lost sight of the bike when the suspect drove past Brenda Road. When the officer passed Brenda Road, they saw the bike lying on the street in the middle of Tarpon Avenue where the suspect attempted to lift the motorcycle upright. 

He got the bike back up and attempted to start it. However, the officer quickly got off his bike and arrested Apodaca. 

The officer later found out that the motorcycle had been reported stolen in Albuquerque on April 28, and there was a warrant out for Apodaca for failing to appear on an original charge of misdemeanor shoplifting. 

The suspect was taken to Presbyterian Rust Medical Center after re-aggravating an old gunshot wound at an undisclosed location, and suffering possible road rash. 

After he was cleared at the hospital, Apodaca was taken to the Sandoval County Detention Center without incident. 

The suspect is being accused of receiving or transferring a stolen vehicle, second offense, and reckless driving.  

Apodaca made no plea at his May 31 initial appearance. 

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for 8:30 a.m. July 1.  

If convicted, he could face up to 3.5 years in prison and pay a $5,500 fine.