Police

Gubernatorial Candidate Deb Haaland Holds Roundtable With Southern New Mexico Law Enforcement Officials

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Deb Haaland

From the Deb Haaland for Governor Campaign:

          • “Event is part of Haaland’s commitment to addressing public safety, fentanyl crisis, and officer recruitment.”

LAS CRUCES – Deb Haaland, candidate for governor, hosted a round table on Dec. 17 with police chiefs, police lieutenants, marshals, and sheriffs from across southern New Mexico.

Haaland knows that New Mexicans don’t feel safe — and that needs to change. She was briefed by officials on managing staffing shortages and resources, drug trafficking, repeat offenders, and juvenile crime. She outlined key solutions including Read More

FBI: Shiprock Man Charged With Second-Degree Murder

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A Shiprock man has been charged after authorities say he beat a woman to death following a day of drinking.

According to court documents, Nov. 15, 2025, Harlan Joe, 21, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, beat Jane Doe to death at a residence in Shiprock, New Mexico after a day of drinking. When officers arrived at the residence, they found Jane Doe deceased outside the house with obvious signs of abuse and trauma and immediately detained Joe. During a subsequent interview, Joe stated that he had known what he was doing and that it was wrong.

Joe is charged with second degree Read More

FBI: Texas Man Pleads Guilty To COVID-19 Unemployment Fraud Scheme In New Mexico

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A Texas man pleaded guilty to federal charges after admitting he fraudulently filed unemployment insurance claims in New Mexico using stolen identities to obtain federally funded COVID-19 relief benefits.

According to court documents, from July 2020 through February 2021, Marc Long, 46, devised and carried out a scheme to defraud the United States and financial institutions by submitting fraudulent unemployment insurance claims funded by federal COVID 19 relief programs. While residing in Texas, Long used the names and personally identifiable information Read More

The Experience & Story Of LAPD Cpl. Joseph Robinson

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Cpl. Joseph Robinson with students in LAHS Teacher Lori Thompson’s Sports Lit class. Courtesy/LAPS

By Emmitt Tibbitts
Los Alamos High School
Sports Lit Class Student

As part of my Sports Literature class, my group and I walked to the courthouse and interviewed Los Alamos Police Department (LAPD) Cpl. Joseph Robinson. Fittingly, we found out that one of his favorite things about being a police officer is getting to interact with the public.

Before becoming a police officer (right out of high school), Robinson worked as a mechanic for some time. Later, he moved to Los Angeles for about six years Read More

LAPD Cmdr. Brent Hudspeth Gives Advice To LAHS Students

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Cmdr. Brent Hudspeth with LAHS Teacher Lori Thompson’s Sports Literature students. Courtesy/LAPS

By Rylee Gramer and Peyton Labonty
Los Alamos High School
Sports Literature Students

A few weeks ago, we interviewed Los Alamos Police Department Cmdr. Brent Hudspeth at the Los Alamos County Courthouse. Hudspeth is a tall man with brown eyes. We learned that he has a wife and a baby boy named Sebastian.

During the interview, we also found out more about his life and how he came to be a police commander in Los Alamos.

He grew up in Farmington but later moved to Los Alamos. According to him, his childhood Read More

FBI: Taos Pueblo Man Charged For Hatchet Assault

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A Taos Pueblo man has been indicted on federal charges for allegedly attacking another man with hatchets.

According to court documents, Aug. 6, 2025, Joe Daniel Gomez, 49, an enrolled member of the Taos Pueblo, allegedly assaulted John Doe with two hatchets, which caused Doe to suffer serious bodily injury.

Gomez is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. He will remain in a halfway house pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted, Gomez faces up to 10 years in prison.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison Read More

FBI: Gallup Man Sentenced For Beating/Choking Partner

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE – A Gallup man was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for strangling his dating partner and leaving her with life-threatening injuries.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, in the early morning hours of March 6, 2024, Victor Badonie, 33, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, assaulted and strangled Jane Doe. During this attack, Badonie menaced Doe in various ways—he punched Doe in her face multiple times, he choked her by pinning her down using his forearm against her neck, he ripped her hair out, and he broke her phone as she tried Read More

FBI: Las Cruces Man Pleads Guilty To Two Bank Robberies

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Photo from PNC Bank Robbery on Feb. 20, 2025. Courtesy/FBI

FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A Las Cruces man pleaded guilty in federal court to robbing two banks in Feb. 2025.

According to court documents, on Feb. 12, 2025, Daniel Guereca, 29, robbed the U.S. Bank in Los Lunas, New Mexico.  Wearing a black hoodie and a white mask, Guereca passed a handwritten demand note to two tellers before fleeing the bank with at least $6,000 in cash. Guereca then escaped the scene with the assistance of Breanne Gallegos, 29, who was waiting in the getaway vehicle and who had written the demand note that Guereca  Read More

FBI: Peñasco Man Gets Over 21 Years For Fatal Stabbing

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A Peñasco man was sentenced to more than 21 years in prison for the stabbing death of another man.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, Dec. 25, 2022, Byron Sanchez, 49, an enrolled member of the Picuris Pueblo, was involved in an altercation with John Doe at his residence in Peñasco, New Mexico, within the exterior boundaries of the Picuris Pueblo.

During the altercation, which occurred while both individuals were under the influence of alcohol, Sanchez fatally stabbed John Doe and placed his body in a bedroom. Law enforcement officials Read More

FBI: Arizona Man Pleads Guilty To Assault On Border Patrol Agents In Las Cruces

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — An Arizona man pleaded guilty to assaulting a federal officer after ramming a U.S. Border Patrol vehicle while fleeing in a stolen car in Las Cruces.

According to court documents, on March 31, 2025, Christopher Jack Leach, 33, learned there was a warrant for his arrest in Arizona, borrowed a friend’s vehicle under false pretenses, and fled toward Florida with a passenger knowing the vehicle was stolen.

He traveled across state lines while evading law enforcement.

On April 2, 2025, Leach was driving the stolen vehicle through Las Cruces when he saw law enforcement following Read More