Public Safety

FBI: Fruitland Man Pleads Guilty In Fatal DUI Crash

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A Fruitland man pleaded guilty to a federal crime after a fatal car crash involving drugs that resulted in the death of a baby.

According to court documents, April 3, 2024, Dewayne Earl Blackie, 37, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was driving on a two-lane highway near Shiprock, New Mexico, when he collided with two other cars that were pulled over on the right-hand side of the road. A 16-month-old child was ejected from his vehicle. The child died from blunt-force injuries. After the wreck, methamphetamines and marijuana were found in Blackie’s system.

Blackie Read More

Energy Department Launches ‘Genesis Mission’ To Transform American Science & Innovation Through AI Computing Revolution

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Under Secretary for Science Darío Gil to lead Genesis Mission initiative.

LANL News:

President Trump today issued an Executive Order to launch the Genesis Mission, a historic national effort led by the Department of Energy. 

Los Alamos National Laboratory supports the Genesis Mission, the Department of Energy’s newly-launched national initiative to advance artificial intelligence and accelerate scientific achievements. From stewarding our nation’s deterrence capabilities with high performance computing for modeling and simulation to driving breakthroughs in quantum science Read More

NMDPS Hosts Missing Persons, Community Resource Day

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DPS Deputy Cabinet Secretary Sylvia Serna. Courtesy photo

Courtesy photo

DPS News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Department of Public Safety (DPS) brought together law enforcement officers and families of missing persons for two days of training and support services in November.

Friday, Nov. 21, officers from across New Mexico attended eight hours of missing persons training at the Law Enforcement Academy. The New Mexico Missing Persons Clearinghouse, U.S. Marshals, FBI, and New Mexico State Police led sessions on evidence collection, interviews, interagency collaboration, and alert activation Read More

Casamero Lake Woman Pleads Guilty To Involuntary Manslaughter In Fatal Hit-And-Run

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A Casamero Lake woman pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter after striking and killing a pedestrian on a dirt road while driving drunk.

According to court documents, on or about Aug. 6, 2024, Debbie Rojack, 45, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, hit and killed John Doe on a dirt road after drinking a 6-pack of beer the day of the incident. John Doe’s body was found on the side of the road four days later. The cause of death is listed as blunt force trauma. Investigators located car parts in the area of John Doe’s body which later came back to a vehicle owned by Rojack. Read More

FBI: Gallup Man Charged With Involuntary Manslaughter

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A Gallup man has been indicted on federal charges for allegedly killing another person while driving recklessly.

According to court documents, Aug. 11, 2024, Justin Othermedicine, 22, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, killed John Doe while operating a motor vehicle with reckless disregard for life.

Othermedicine is charged with involuntary manslaughter and will remain on conditions of release pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted, Othermedicine faces up to eight years in prison.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement Read More

New Mexico Court Of Appeals Celebrates Milestone By Judge J. Miles Hanisee Who Has Written 1,000 Opinions

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Court of Appeals Judge J. Miles Hanisee holds a gift from his law clerks displaying the names of the 1,000 court cases in which he wrote the opinions. From left, Kara Shair-Rosenfield (former clerk), Court of Appeals Judge Kristopher Houghton (former clerk), Walker Boyd (former clerk), Judge Hanisee, Mary Helen Pavlides (clerk), Breanne Potter (clerk), Graciela Esquivel (former clerk), and Oliver Stephanz (former clerk). Courtesy/NMSC

NMSC News:

ALBUQUERQUE — The state Court of Appeals honored Judge J. Miles Hanisee this week for his contributions to New Mexico law by writing 1,000 opinions Read More

County: Watch For Wildlife On Roadways During Winter Months…

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Slow down and stay alert as temperatures drop and days get shorter to avoid wildlife collisions. Courtesy/LAC

COUNTY News:

As the temperature drops and the days get shorter, more vehicles will be on the road at times when wildlife are most active: dusk and dawn. Even smaller animals, such as cottontails and jackrabbits, can prove to be hazardous as motorists brake or swerve to avoid a collision.

Follow these simple tips to help reduce the chances of a dangerous collision:

  • Slow down and look for movement. Slowing down doesn’t just help avoid a collision; it can reduce the impact if a large animal
Read More

FBI: Jury Finds Taos Man Guilty Of First-Degree Murder And All Other Charges Related To Brutal 2023 Pueblo Slaying

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A federal jury returned guilty verdicts against Zebadiah Romero, 37, on all charges for the October 2023 premeditated murder of a Taos Pueblo man with a single gunshot to the back of his head. The verdict came after a weeklong trial and less than a day of deliberation.

According to evidence presented at trial, on Oct. 30, 2023, Romero, a non-Indian, shot and killed John Doe, an enrolled member of the Taos Pueblo, inside John Doe’s residence on the Taos Pueblo.

Romero had been evicted and banned from the Taos Pueblo before the murder. John Doe was discovered Nov. 4, 2023, after Read More

County: Be Cool When Tossing Hot Ashes!

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From Los Alamos County:

Nothing says cozy like a crackling fire on a chilly night — until those fireplace ashes turn into an unexpected hazard. Before you toss them out, make sure they’ve cooled completely and are stored safely.

Let’s keep the warmth in our homes and the fires where they belong. Stay safe, Los Alamos!

Residents and businesses should ensure all hot ashes are fully extinguished before placing them in trash receptacles. This simple precaution will help protect both our community and our waste collection staff and equipment.

Smoldering trash can turn into a serious fire, or, if dumped Read More