Stephanie Garcia
A second suspect involved in a March 9 shoplifting incident that ended with a local man being struck by a vehicle outside Bealls Department Store in Mari Mac Shopping Center is now in custody at the Los Alamos Detention Center.
Los Alamos Police Cmdr. Preston Ballew confirmed this morning that Stephanie Garcia, 31, of Espanola, was picked up Tuesday night in Santa Fe. LAPD Det. Joseph Robinson obtained a statewide arrest warrant March 16 for Garcia after tips from the public and assistance from Rio Arriba County Sheriff’s deputies helped uncover her identity.
The first suspect in the case, Ashley Garcia, 23, of Hernandez was arrested and charged with shoplifting, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and duty to give information and render aid in connection with the hit and run incident. Magistrate Court Judge Pat Casados ordered Hernandez held in custody until her May 11 preliminary hearing on previous shoplifting charges, however, agreed to release her on her own recognizance on the latest charges.
Casados granted Garcia release on her own recognizance on the March 9 charges but said it bothered her that Garcia had left the courtroom that day and allegedly committed a crime. According to court records, Garcia has had multiple probation violations related to a previous conviction for residential burglary in Rio Arriba County.
