Police

FBI: Labar Tsethlikai Faces Life In Prison For Murder

by

Labar Tsethlikai

FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Labar Tsethlikai, 51, an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, made an initial appearance on his Indictment related to the murder of a member of the Navajo Nation. He is considered the prime suspect in a series of crimes targeting Native American men in Gallup, Zuni and Albuquerque.

Tsethlikai will remain in custody pending his detention hearing and arraignment, which is set for May 1, 2024.

Tsethlikai is charged with murdering John Doe on Jan. 18, 2024. John Doe was found deceased the next morning in a remote area of the Zuni Reservation on Route 7, approximately Read More

New Mexico State Police Discover 803 Lbs. Of Marijuana, 73.5 Lbs. Of Cocaine Inside CMV At Lordsburg Port Of Entry

by

NMSP inspected the cargo in this truck on April 28, 2024, at the Lordsberg Port of Entry, and discovered 803 lbs. of marijuana and 73.5 lbs. of cocaine. Courtesy/NMSP

NMSP News:

LORDSBURG — A Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) passing through the Lordsburg Port of Entry was found to contain drugs after being inspected by officers.

At around 1:15 p.m., April 28, 2024, a New Mexico Department of Public Safety (NMDPS) Transportation Inspector requested New Mexico State Police (NMSP) assistance for a cargo inspection on a CMV at the Lordsburg Port of Entry (POE). The trailer to the CMV was locked and the Read More

State Police Checkpoints And Saturation Patrols To Begin In Counties Across New Mexico In May 2024

by

NMSP News:

New Mexico State Police (NMSP) will be conducting sobriety checkpoints, saturation patrols; and registration, insurance, and driver’s license checkpoints in all New Mexico counties during May 2024.

We are bringing awareness to these events to reduce impaired driving-related fatalities through continued media attention and intensive advertising.

These checkpoints are helping to change society’s attitude about driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs.

Hundreds of lives could be saved each year if every driver had the courage to make Read More

Mexican National Arrested For Illegal Re-entry To Serve 20 Years in Federal Prison Following New Mexico State Sentence For Murder Conviction

by

FBI News:

          • U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Texas

SAN ANTONIO – A Mexican national was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio to 240 months in prison for one count of illegal re-entry into the United States. The man was previously sentenced by a New Mexico state court for murder.

According to court documents, Luis Antonio Talamantes-Romero, 36, of Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, was arrested by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO) agent who learned Talamantes had illegally re-entered the U.S. after being deported multiple Read More

Los Alamos County Council Proclaims National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week

by

Los Alamos County Council proclaimed April 14-20 as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in Los Alamos. County Council Chair Denise Derkacs and Police Chief Dino Sgambellone presented the proclamation. Shown here back row from left, Public Safety Telecommunicators Amanda Bucklin, Kate Stoddard, Sgambellone, Derkacs and Anthony Cardena. Front row, Susie Feiertag and Seth Martinez. Courtesy/LAC

COUNTY News:

On April 22, Los Alamos County Council proclaimed April 14-20 as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in Los Alamos.

Council Chair Denise Derkacs read the Read More

FBI: Former New Mexico Sheriff’s Office Deputy Pleads Guilty To Violating Civil Rights Of Arrestee And Obstruction

by

FBI News:

  • Guilty Verdict Obtained Under 2022 Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act Enhanced Penalties

A former sheriff’s deputy, Michael A. Martinez, 34, pleaded guilty today to violating the civil rights of a female arrestee by sexually assaulting her inside his patrol car and to obstructing justice by attempting to destroy his patrol car’s WatchGuard DVR system, which had recorded footage from his patrol car’s internal cameras of the sexual assault.

“Police sexual violence targeting women in their custody are heinous crimes that have no place in our society,” said Assistant Read More

FBI: Albuquerque Woman Gets 63 Mos. For Trafficking Meth

by

FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — An Albuquerque woman was sentenced to 63 months in prison for trafficking methamphetamine.  

According to court documents, Oct. 17, 2017, law enforcement intercepted two vehicles transporting methamphetamine to Farmington. Melissa Redfearn-Martinez was driving one of them. Law enforcement officers conducted a K9 sniff and search on both vehicles. Inside Redfearn’s vehicle, officers found 776.2 grams of methamphetamine.

After completing her term of imprisonment, Martinez will be required to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the Read More

FBI Offers Reward For Bearded Bandit At Belen Bank

by

Anyone who recognizes this thief or has information about this robbery is asked to contact the FBI at 505.889.1300. Courtesy/FBI

FBI News:

The FBI and Belen Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance to identify the Bearded Bandit, who robbed the Wells Fargo Bank, located at 101 S. Main Street, Belen, New Mexico, at approximately 4:29 p.m., Friday, April 5, 2024.

Suspect’s description:

            • Sex: Male
            • Race: White
            • Height: Approximately 5’5”
            • Build: average
            • Clothing: Navy zipper hoodie, gray undershirt, black pants, Tan ball cap with red writing, Tan shoes/boots
            • Spoke in Spanish

The Read More

FBI: Man Charged With Murder On Taos Pueblo

by

FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE – A man is facing federal charges for allegedly murdering his former roommate.

Zebadiah Romero, 35, a non-Indian, appeared in federal court for an initial appearance where the Court temporarily detained him pending a detention hearing, which was scheduled for April 25, 2024.

Court documents allege that on Oct. 30, 2023, Romero shot and killed John Doe, an enrolled member of the Taos Pueblo, in his residence on the Taos Pueblo.

Romero is charged with first degree murder and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, discharging said firearm. Read More

State Police Probe Officer Involved Shooting In Santa Fe

by

NMSP News:

SANTA FE – On April 24, 2024, at about 3:14 p.m. the New Mexico State Police (NMSP)  Investigations Bureau (IB) was informed of an Officer Involved Shooting involving the Santa Fe Police Department that occurred at the intersection of Cerrillos Road and Harrison in Santa Fe. NMSP IB agents responded and initiated an investigation into the incident.

According to the preliminary investigation, the sequence of events unfolded at Café Castro at 2811 Cerrillos Road. At approximately 2:31 p.m. the suspect, later identified as 37-year-old Jermaine Garcia, entered the establishment, Read More