Police

FBI: U.S. Attorney’s Office Secures 30 Year Sentence For Convicted Child Predator On Jicarilla Apache Reservation

by

FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE – A Dulce man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison following a trial where evidence revealed that between January 2016 and January 2020, Joel Ruiz, 65, used candy to lure two children under the age of 12 into his trailer on the Jicarilla Apache Reservation, where he sexually assaulted them.

There is no parole in the federal system.

During the trial, Jane Doe 1 testified that Ruiz abused her when she was six or seven years old. The jury also heard from Jane Doe 2, who testified that Ruiz abused her once when she was three or four years old. Both victims described similar Read More

MADD New Mexico Joins Forces With Law Enforcement For ‘Saturation Saturday’ To Fight Impaired Driving Ahead Of Labor Day Weekend

by

MADD New Mexico News:

ALBUQUERQUE — In a powerful initiative to fight impaired driving ahead of Labor Day weekend, Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) staff and volunteers are partnering with law enforcement in New Mexico for “Saturation Saturday” today, Aug. 24, 2024.

This coordinated effort aims to save lives by intensifying impaired driving enforcement during one of the year’s busiest travel periods.

Labor Day weekend celebrations often lead to a dramatic rise in fatal impaired driving crashes. In 2022, there were 490 crash fatalities nationwide over the Labor Day holiday period Read More

FBI: U.S. Attorney’s Office Secures Conviction Of Church Rock Man For Shooting At Law Enforcement

by

FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE – A Church Rock man has pleaded guilty in federal court in federal court to charges related to attack on law enforcement officers on the Navajo Nation.

According to court documents, in the early morning of July 22, 2023, the Navajo Police Department (NPD) received reports of a man identified as Elijah Touchine, 24, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, walking near his residence, shooting a gun and threatening to hurt someone.

Officers from the NPD and New Mexico State Police responded to the area and came under fire from an unknown direction, prompting them to take tactical Read More

New Mexico Delegation On $5.5 Million To Tackle Crime

by

Congressional News:

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) welcomed the U.S. Department of Justice disbursing $5,417,000 of federal resources the lawmakers secured to help New Mexico’s law enforcement agencies solve crime, support prosecutors and courts, survivor services, violence prevention and keep communities safe.

The New Mexico Delegation secured these investments through Read More

Swift Coordinated Efforts Of New Mexico State Police, Sheriff’s Office, US Marshals Capture Shooting Suspect

by

NMSP News:

We are pleased to report that Fernando Leon Silva, the suspect involved in the Aug. 19 shooting at a New Mexico State Police (NMSP) officer in Farmington, has been apprehended.

Thanks to the swift and coordinated efforts of the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Marshals Service, and the New Mexico State Police, Silva is now in custody.

We are relieved that no one was injured in this dangerous incident. Thank you to our dedicated officers and all partner agencies involved for their hard work in ensuring the safety of our community. Read More

New Mexico Felony Warrant Enforcement Program Leads To 1,664 Arrests Including 26 Individuals Accused Of Murder

by

2nd Judicial District Attorney Sam Bregman

DFA News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), in collaboration with District Attorney Offices across the state has successfully completed the first year of the felony warrant enforcement program. This initiative led to the arrest of 1,664 individuals, many of whom are accused of serious crimes such as murder, robbery, rape, assault, etc., and had outstanding felony warrants.

“This program sends a clear message to criminals—if you break the law, we will find you, and we will hold you accountable, no matter how Read More

State Awards $24.8M For Nearly 200 Correctional Officers

by

DFA News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) committed $24.8 million to bolster public safety by funding 189 new correctional officer positions, delivering critical support to 22 local entities and the New Mexico Corrections Department.

This significant investment will help offset the cost of new correctional officer salaries for three years, reinforcing the state’s commitment to enhancing the security of its correctional facilities and safeguarding New Mexico communities.

“This $24.8 million investment is a clear message that New Mexico is Read More

U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI Charge Bloomfield Woman With Abuse

by

FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A Bloomfield woman has been indicted on multiple counts for allegedly placing a child in a dangerous situation earlier this year.

Avondale Johnson, 30, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, appeared before a federal judge today and will remain in custody pending a detention hearing, which has not been scheduled.

According to the indictment, between March 1 and March 14, 2024, Johnson allowed a child under the age of 18 to be placed in a dangerous situation that could seriously harm the child’s health and safety.

If convicted, Johnson faces five years in prison. Read More

FBI & U.S. Attorney: French National Gets 111 Months For Armed Robberies Targeting Albuquerque Businesses

by

FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A French national was sentenced to 111 months in federal prison for a series of armed robberies in Albuquerque on Halloween 2019.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, on the morning of Oct. 31, 2019, Mathis Laau, 26, entered the lobby of Motel 6 at 13141 Central Ave. NE in Albuquerque. He pointed a firearm at a clerk and demanded money. The clerk gave Laau $300 and he left.

Later that same day, Laau entered the Circle K store at 5301 Wyoming Blvd. NE in Albuquerque carrying a purple and silver pistol. He pointed the gun at an employee and demanded Read More

NMSP Arrest In Española Yields Drugs, AR-15 Style Rifle

by

Courtesy/NMSP

NMSP News:

ESPAÑOLA — At around 9:25 p.m., Aug. 11, 2024, a New Mexico State Police (NMSP) officer on patrol encountered a 2014 Silver Lexus on Rio Arriba County Road 40.

The officer saw Issac Cruz, 34, of Española, driving the vehicle. The officer knew Cruz from previous encounters and knew he had an active felony warrant.

The officer initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle. Cruz was cooperative and did not resist the officer. Cruz was arrested without incident on his active felony warrant.

Cruz had 15 grams of crack cocaine in his pocket at the time of arrest. 

Officers obtained a Read More