Police

AG Balderas Announces Conviction Of Former Rio Arriba County Sheriff’s Deputy Who Deployed Taser On Special-Needs Student

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Attorney General Hector Balderas

AG News:

TIERRA AMARILLA — New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas announced Thursday that former Rio Arriba County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeremy Barnes pled no contest to one felony count of false imprisonment.

As part of the plea agreement, Barnes must relinquish any law-enforcement certification and is not eligible to seek, obtain, or have employment in any law-enforcement position for the rest of his life. Sentencing has been set for Jan. 5, 2023 where Barnes faces up to 18 months in prison.  

“There is no excuse for a public officer to abuse his power and Read More

New Mexico Fire Marshals Office Assists AFT In Multistate Arson Probe Involving 25 Swift Semi-Truck Trailers Fires

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AFT News:

SANTA FE — A suspect has been arrested by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) following a two-year string of semi-truck trailer arson cases, including nine in New Mexico.

The New Mexico Fire Marshals Office played an integral role in the multistate investigation. 

ATF reached out to the Fire Marshals Office in October 2020 to coordinate the investigation of any commercial motor vehicle fires along Interstate 40.

Oct. 24, 2020, the New Mexico State Police reached out to the Fire Marshals Office to report a commercial motor vehicle fire involving Read More

Governor: Remaining $8.5 Million In New Mexico Law Enforcement Recruitment Fund Awarded Among 39 Agencies

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STATE News:

SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Thursday that the remaining $8.5 million from the Law Enforcement Recruitment Fund has been awarded to 39 law enforcement entities in communities around the state.

The funding caps off a $50 million investment by the governor in the last legislative session to provide resources to law enforcement to recruit and retain law enforcement officers.

“We know that law enforcement agencies around the state need additional officers and lack the local resources to do so,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said. “This much-needed funding is bridging that Read More

Former Catron County Sheriff Ian Fletcher Faces 10 Felonies

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Former Catron County Sheriff

From the Office of the Attorney General:

RESERVE — New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas announced today the filing of an Information alleging 10 felony counts against former Catron County Sheriff Ian Fletcher related to misusing federal funds in the aftermath of the Buzzard Fire in May of 2018.

Catron County entered into a cooperative law enforcement agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), through the United States Forest Service (USFS), to provide law enforcement assistance during this fire.

Fletcher is alleged to have embezzled Read More

FBI, APD Seek Goggle Wearing Ski Bum Bank Robber

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Ski Bum Bandit. Courtesy/FBI

FBI News:

The FBI and Albuquerque Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance to identify the Ski Bum Bandit who robbed First Financial Credit Union, 1625 Rio Bravo Blvd. SW, at approximately 9:15 a.m. today.

Suspect description:

  • Race: Black
  • Height: 6′
  • Weight: 180 pounds (slim)
  • Clothing: Dark hooded sweatshirt, ski goggles, blue surgical mask, blue glove on right hand, dark pants, dark running shoes.
  • Other: He had a limp walking into the credit union, but that limp quickly disappeared as he sprinted out of the building going west and down an alley.
Read More

Balderas Requests U.S. DHS Secretary Intervene For New Mexicans, Communities Recovering From Wildfire Disaster

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Attorney General Hector Balderas

AG News:

ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas sent a letter to United States Department of  Homeland Security Secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, requesting assistance for New Mexico families struggling to access disaster relief funding in their efforts to recover from the Calf Canyon/Hermit’s Peak wildfire disaster, and stressed the need for flexible, localized regulation in the post-disaster recovery effort.

The letter reads as follows:

Dear Secretary Mayorkas,

As New Mexico’s Chief Law Enforcement Officer, I am, like you, primarily Read More

Amber Alert: Oreyana Clinton, 5, With Intoxicated Father

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Update: She is safe!

Oreyana Clinton

NMSP News:

ALBUQUERQUE — The following is information for the distribution of an Amber Alert for the Albuquerque Police Department (APD).

Please refer all inquiries to APD at 505.242.2677.

The Albuquerque Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating Oreyana Clinton, a Native American female child, 5 years old, three feet tall, 70 pounds, with brown eyes, and black hair.

Clinton was last seen around 4 p.m. Dec. 5, near 51st Street and Central in Albuquerque, attempting to board a city bus with her intoxicated father Nicholas Clinton. Read More

New Mexico State Police 100th Academy Graduation Dec. 9

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The New Mexico State Police (NMSP) Training & Recruiting Bureau Cordially invites the public to attend the graduation ceremony of the New Mexico State Police 100th Recruit Class at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 9 at the Santa Fe Convention Center, 201 West Marcy Street in Santa Fe. Support the 19 graduating recruits as they begin their careers to serve the citizens of New Mexico as New Mexico State Police Officers. Courtesy/NMSP Read More

Balderas & DA Key Announce Life Sentence For Ruidoso Man

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Attorney General Hector Balderas

From the Office of the Attorney General:

ALAMOGORDO — New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas and Twelfth Judicial District Attorney Scot Key announced today that Ricardo Soto was sentenced to life imprisonment for the crime of killing a two-year-old toddler.

Soto was convicted of Intentional Child Abuse Resulting in Death of a two-year-old toddler, Jeremiah Nevarez, following a three-week-long trial. The jury heard evidence that Soto, after inflicting the injuries, which would eventually kill baby Jeremiah, fled to Mexico before his arrest at Read More

FBI: Man Charged In San Felipe Shooting

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced that Jeremiah Tenorio has been charged in connection with a shooting on the San Felipe Pueblo.

Tenorio, 26, and an enrolled member of the San Felipe Pueblo, appeared in federal court Nov. 28 for a detention hearing, facing charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. Tenorio will remain on conditions Read More