Fugitive, 77, who was on the run for 46 years is finally caught by the SAME Denver cop he was jailed for shooting in 1971 after being found hiding out in New Mexico

• Luis Archuleta, who is now 77, escaped from a Colorado prison in 1974   
• He was doing time for shooting cop Daril Cinquanta in Denver three years earlier
• Until his arrest Wednesday he had been living in the quiet town of Espanola in New Mexico for around 40 years under the alias Ramon Montoya 
• But finding Archuleta became 'like a hobby' for Cinquanta who never gave up 
• He said a call he received on June 24 handed Archuleta to him 'on a platter'
• Cinquanta, who retired in 1990, said: 'He’s been wanted 46 years for that and I’ve been working on him 46 years and I found him. [It feels] wonderful'

A fugitive who has been on the run for nearly 50 years was arrested Wednesday after being found by the same police officer he was jailed for shooting in 1971. 

Luis Archuleta, who is now 77, escaped from a Colorado prison in 1974 while doing time for shooting and wounding Daril Cinquanta in Denver three years earlier. 

Until his arrest Wednesday he had been living as a senior citizen in the quiet town of Espanola in New Mexico for around 40 years under the alias Ramon Montoya, the FBI said. He had been featured on America's most wanted in 2009 and 2010.

Cinquanta, who was shot once in the stomach and retired in 1990, said finding Archuleta became 'like a hobby', telling Fox31: 'I have never given up on him. It just shows you: persistence does pay off.'   

'I was cold calling people and bad guys, I went to their homes, I went to their families, and most of the reception was not warm', he added, 'I’m not real popular with the bad guys’ families.'

Cinquanta said he received a call on June 24 which handed Archuleta to him 'on a platter'. He added: 'I get a call "I’ve thought about it, I’m going to tell you where he’s at", and this person handed him to me on a platter.'

Luis Archuleta, right, who is now 77, escaped from a Colorado prison in 1974 while doing time for shooting and wounding Daril Cinquanta, left, in Denver three years earlier

He added: 'He’s been wanted 46 years for that and I’ve been working on him 46 years and I found him. [It feels] wonderful. I’ve gotten calls from all over from policemen and stuff who thinks it’s phenomenal.'

Cinquanta said of the shooting: 'He looked like a bad actor. I confronted him. He put his arm back and he was pulling a gun. I lost that battle.

'Back in those days, we didn’t have bullet-proof vests and our radios did not come out of our cars, so I had to crawl to the car and get in the car to call for help.

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Until his arrest Wednesday he had been living as a senior citizen in the quiet town of Espanola, pictured, in New Mexico for around 40 years under the alias Ramon Montoya, the FBI said

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Cinquanta, left, who was shot once in the stomach and retired in 1990, said finding Archuleta , right, became 'like a hobby'. Cinquanta said he received a call on June 24 which handed Archuleta to him 'on a platter'

Archuleta had originally been sentenced to nine to 14 years in prison before his escape from a state hospital in Pueblo.  

'This arrest should send a clear signal to violent offenders everywhere: The FBI will find you, no matter how long it takes or how far you run, and we will bring you to justice,' FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider said in a statement.

'The passing of time does not erase or excuse his crimes,' said Denver police chief Paul Pazen.

Archuleta appeared in court in New Mexico Thursday. He will now be returned to Colorado to face charges stemming from his jailbreak.