socorro police department

Socorro Police Department

The following items were taken from reports at the Socorro Police Department

May 7

Officers were called at 11:15 p.m. to Leroy and Olive to assist New Mexico Tech police and Socorro County Sheriff’s deputies struggling with a male suspect. An officer deployed a Taser but continued to struggle with the suspect. The suspect was placed in handcuffs and medical personnel called. The suspect was treated and taken to Socorro General Hospital but declined medical attention. At the police department, the suspect consented to a breath test with the result being .00. The suspect consented to a blood test and was taken back to the hospital for a blood draw. The blood draw was completed and the suspect was left in the custody of the New Mexico Tech Police Department.

A caller told police at 6:24 p.m. he was at his children’s home on Leroy to pick them up for court-ordered visitation, but his wife was not letting him take the children. While the officer was at the residence, the wife came out saying that he had visitation on Saturdays; not on Fridays. The caller advised he had an updated schedule from the court. The caller was advised to provide the document to the officer. He said he would look for the documents and contact police. The wife said she wanted the incident documented since she does have a copy of the valid order of protection. The caller never contacted police with a valid custody order.

An officer on patrol at 8 a.m. located three male subjects on a property in the 700 block of Texas that was posted private property. One of the men was known to be trespassed from the property. The suspect was cited into court and released. The two other subjects were advised not to return to the property.

Police received a call at 8:44 a.m. from San Miguel Catholic Church in reference to a theft. The caller said the female suspect was at the church and stole a boutonniere that was going to be used for a funeral. The suspect was later located and found in possession of the boutonniere. The suspect resisted but the officer was able to recover the boutonniere. The suspect was taken to the police department where she was cited into court for the violations. The flower was returned to the church.

Offices conducting a check of the vacant Zimmerly Elementary school building at 12:08 a.m. noticed an open door. During a search of the school, officers discovered a bowl with drug residue. The items were collected as evidence. The officer tested the substance which showed positive for a controlled substance. The substance was logged for destruction.

An officer was dispatched at 2:19 p.m. to a residence on Fairgrounds Road for a break-in. The victim showed the officer where someone had made entrance into the place by prying the door open. Officer entered the building and noticed a black safe with the handle broken and a piece of metal lodged in the door. The officer also noted a black lockbox on the floor that was opened and had damage.

A caller reported at 3 p.m. that an unknown suspect was trying to file for unemployment benefits using their information. The caller provided documentation of the attempted fraud. The officer is aware of two other cases where someone is trying to file for unemployment benefits using someone else’s information.

May 8

An officer was dispatched at 9:08 p.m. to a residence in the 1100 block of Chaparral for sexual assault. Officer arrived and made contact with a juvenile, who said his stepmother kissed him inappropriately and made indiscreet sexual advances. The juvenile’s mother and sister arrived. The officer spoke with the stepmother who was intoxicated and denied touching the juvenile. The officer called the on-call district attorney’s office and was advised to set up the juvenile for a safe house interview. The case is still under investigation.

An officer was dispatched at 4:49 p.m. to a residence on Proto Road for a civil standby. The male told the officer he wanted to get his things from inside of the residence. The officer then met with the male’s girlfriend who said she wanted her boyfriend removed from the residence. The officer advised the female she needed an eviction notice because the male had lived at the residence for several years. The officer was advised by the boyfriend he was scratched by her but did not want to pursue charges. The female explained that she had her boyfriend’s phone in her pocket and when he tried to grab the phone from her they fell onto a bed. The two had to be separated by their 16-year-old son. The parties were separated.

May 9

An officer stopped a vehicle at 10:46 p.m. for a traffic infraction at California and NW Frontage Road. During the stop, the female driver was unable to provide a driver’s license, registration, or proof of insurance. A check with NCIC showed she had a suspended driver’s license. Her vehicle was towed and she was issued citations.

An officer took a report at 1:13 p.m. that the suspect had been calling the victim for Mother’s Day. She said she had an order of protection on the suspect. She told the officer she found out the suspect was cheating on her and told him not to be calling her. The victim said the suspect has passed by her house twice today and wants the incident documented.

An officer met with a complainant in the 500 block of S. California at 3:30 p.m. who said he was having trouble with a male he knew who keeps passing by his house and believes it is because of an incident that happened with one of his friends. The officer was shown some text messages and where the suspect was texting him. The officer noticed texts were going back and forth, and the suspect had texted he was passing by him. The complainant stated he was at Wal-Mart and the suspect started mad-dogging him. The officer advised the complainant the incident would be documented, and if it continued to call the police.

An officer was running traffic on California street at 6:37 p.m. and stopped a vehicle for speeding more than 20 miles over the speed limit. Upon making contact with the driver the officer noticed the odor of an alcoholic beverage. The driver was asked to perform standard field sobriety tests. After probable cause was determined the driver was arrested for driving under the influence. While at Socorro Police Department the male was given an opportunity to give a breath sample and refused. He was incarcerated at Socorro County Detention Center.

An officer was called to a home on Tierra Bonita at 7:51 p.m. for a dispute over a vehicle. The officer met with the suspect who claimed he was purchasing a vehicle from the victim. He said he gave the victim $3,800 for the vehicle but was never given the car. As the officer was speaking with the suspect, the victim arrived. The officer advised the victim to wait and he would meet with the victim. The suspect then picked up a crowbar and began approaching the victim. The officer gave several verbal commands for the suspect to drop the crowbar but the suspect ignored the commands and continued to advance toward the victim. The suspect was taken to the ground and resisted the officer’s attempts to arrest him. The officer used his department-issued Taser to deliver a drive stun. The suspect complied and was placed in handcuffs. The officer again met with the victim who explained he had the suspect fixing the car and agreed to sell the car to him but still needed to use the vehicle in the meantime. The victim noticed the title was not in the car where he had left it and found out the suspect had taken the title without permission. The two parties were advised the vehicle sale was civil and would have to go to court. The suspect agreed to return the title if the victim returned the money. The suspect was taken to the police department for processing and later booked into the SCDC. The crowbar was logged as evidence.

The Socorro County Sheriff’s Department is located inside the courthouse.

The following items were taken from reports at the Socorro County Sheriff’s Department

Apr. 22

An officer received information from the Sheriff at 1:35 p.m. of a possible chop shop in the area of Fierro Road and Ortega Road in Veguita. While in the area the officer noticed a blue Ford Ranger parked in the yard of a trailer fitting a description by the Sheriff and what looked to be a “chopped up” truck. The officer then noticed a small brown Nissan Pathfinder leaving the residence. The vehicle was traveling quickly westbound. The officers located the vehicle parked with the engine running and two male subjects sitting in the vehicle. The officer asked the subject sitting in the driver’s seat for his identification, and as the driver was reaching into his back pocket with his left hand, his right hand was noticed slowly moving along his right thigh. The officer then got sight of what appeared to be the butt of a pistol under the subject’s right leg.

The officer drew his duty weapon and ordered the suspect to move his hands off his leg and onto the steering wheel. After being ordered several times, the subject eventually moved his hands to the steering wheel. The officer was able to open the passenger door and remove the firearm from under the subject’s leg. The handgun was unloaded and held as evidence. The subject was placed in handcuffs and asked if he had anything in his pockets. The subject admitted that he had narcotics in his pocket. Two clear plastic baggies were removed from the pocket and the substance in the baggies was later field-tested, showing a positive result for methamphetamine. A check with NCIC showed the subject to have an active warrant for his arrest. The firearm was later identified as a 9mm Norinco pistol and appeared to be fully functional. The vehicle, which had fictitious plates, was still running at the time, and in an attempt to turn the ignition off the officer noted in plain view a clear glass pipe with white residue between the driver’s door and driver’s seat. The suspect was transported to the SCDC for incarceration on the listed charges. The Nissan Pathfinder was towed from the scene. The chopped vehicle located at the residence was identified as a stolen Ford Pickup.

Apr. 23

An officer was requested to speak with a male victim in reference to his gun being stolen. He stated that sometime between now and two weeks ago, someone stole his .44 Magnum revolver. He said he leaves his gun in his hallway in case someone breaks into his home, and now suspects that his brother stole the gun but does not wish for us to confront his brother about it. The victim did not have a serial number or any unique identifiers for the pistol so it could not be entered into NCIC.  He stated that he rarely leaves him home and always locks his door, so he does not know how anyone got into his home. The officer told him to call back if he hears anything or wishes for officers to confront his brother about stealing the firearm.

Apr. 24

An officer was dispatched at 9 a.m. to the Veguita Trading Post on Highway 304 in reference to a larceny. Upon arrival at the Veguita Trading Post, the officer met with the employees and the owner of the business.

The owner stated that the day before at around 4:35 p.m., three men entered the Veguita Trading Post. The three walked around the store but did not purchase anything. In the security camera video, two men are seen standing near the cashier of the store and they move to their left in an attempt to gain the cashier’s attention. While the cashier looks at the two men, the third man sneaks behind the cashier and steals a Samsung tablet. The man puts the tablet in his waistline and the three men leave the store. The officer obtained the pictures and video from the store security cameras and met with a male in the Veguita area who was able to identify the three men. He stated the three men live in Valencia County. A deputy of the Valencia County Sheriff’s Department was contacted and given the information on the subjects and the incident. He stated he knew one of the individuals and he would attempt to locate him and get the tablet back.

 

El Defensor Chieftain