Jimmy Romero

By MAIRE O’NEILL
Los Alamos Daily Post

A visit to Smith’s Marketplace May 25 ended in five criminal charges against an Espanola man. Jimmy Romero, 35, was charged with possession of a controlled substance, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, falsely obtaining food and assault.

Los Alamos Police Cpl. Gabriel Nieto responded to a call from Smith’s loss prevention personnel regarding a shoplifting incident in progress.

On arrival, he was notified by LAPD Dispatch that Romero was running towards the canyon on the south side of the store. Nieto stopped Romero and had him place his hands on the top of his head and searched him for weapons. After removing a knife from Romero’s pocket, Nieto shook his pants and allegedly found three syringes in his underwear and a bottle of liquor from his rear pocket.

Loss prevention staff told Nieto that Romero was walking around the store eating chicken wings he had not paid for and that he had assaulted a store manager who had confronted him as he exited the store and asked him for a receipt.

Romero had stated he needed to go get his money from his wife who was allegedly outside. The manager said Romero began to run as soon as he heard sirens outside.

On arrival at the Los Alamos Detention Center after his arrest, Nieto checked Romero’s wallet and found a white bag containing a white substance which tested positive for methamphetamine.

While Detention staff were searching Romero, they found two syringe caps that looked like they had something burnt inside. Romero allegedly stated that was what he used to heat his heroin.