Clovis Rancher Helps Police Catch Homicide Suspect

When Kip DeFoor heard that a high school student who worked for him had his truck stolen overnight, his heart sank for the young man. Then fate put DeFoor right in the path to help get it back.

The Clovis rancher spotted the stolen 2006 Chevrolet Silverado passing him on Mabry Drive early Thursday morning. He immediately called 911 and began following the vehicle, relaying the driver's location to police dispatchers.

"I felt so bad for this kid; that's all he had," DeFoor said about his teenage employee who helps feed cattle on his ranch.

What started as an act of kindness turned into a wild 20-minute chase through dirt roads south of Clovis. The truck's driver eventually stopped, got out, and fired four shots at DeFoor before jumping back in the vehicle and speeding toward the Texas state line.

DeFoor wasn't hit and his vehicle wasn't damaged. Instead of backing off, he kept following until the driver reached Farwell, Texas, where the truck was eventually abandoned at a restaurant parking lot.

Thanks to DeFoor's real-time updates, police tracked the suspect to a friend's vehicle heading back toward Clovis. Officers intercepted the car at a train crossing on U.S. 60/84.

When police initiated a traffic stop, the passenger, 38-year-old Vincent Galvan, jumped into the driver's seat and took off. After making erratic turns through residential streets, Galvan crashed into an 18-wheeler and tried to flee on foot before officers quickly captured him.

The Bright Side

Galvan was wanted as a person of interest in a Roosevelt County homicide investigation. Sheriff Javier Sanchez had asked the community for help locating him just days earlier after a woman was found dead inside a vehicle on May 19.

DeFoor's courage and quick thinking turned what could have been a dangerous situation into a successful arrest. No one was injured in the crash or chase.

The stolen truck was recovered intact. Police are continuing their investigation into the homicide case while Galvan remains in custody on an unrelated warrant.

Sometimes being a good neighbor means going above and beyond, and DeFoor's actions prove that community members can make a real difference when they step up to help.