Albuquerque
Sheriff’s Office: Albuquerque inmate escapee kills himself in Manzano home
A Metropolitan Detention Center inmate who escaped custody in downtown Albuquerque Wednesday morning killed himself in a Manzano home Wednesday evening, the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department confirmed late Wednesday night.
The sheriff’s office issued a news release saying 48-year-old Larry Dohrn died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The release said Dohrn called deputies before they arrived and said he was going to kill himself. The homeowner could not confirm if Dohrn was dead, the sheriff’s office said, but once SWAT officers were able to enter the home, they found Dohrn dead.
The sheriff had previously been unclear about whether or not Dohrn was dead.
“Apparently he is in custody,” Bernalillo County Sheriff Manny Gonzales said at an evening news conference. “So this is resolved; he is in custody. He is at that residence.”
Dohrn was en route to court from MDC when he managed to escape his shackles and kick out the back window of the transport bus while on 6th Street near the railroad tracks around 7:40 a.m.
MDC spokeswoman Nataura Powdrell-Moore says a MDC officer tried to catch Dohrn on foot, but was unsuccessful. He carjacked a vehicle between 6th and 7th streets and escaped. The driver of that car got away unharmed as well.
Bernalillo County deputies recovered the stolen vehicle in an alley near 14th and Lead around noon. Dohrm’s MDC-issued pants were also found in a dumpster nearby.
At 6 p.m., state police officers and deputies from Bernalillo County were involved in a SWAT situation involving Dohrn near Manzano, which is north of Mountainair.
At the 8 p.m. news conference, Sheriff Gonzales said Dohrn was in custody. Deputies were tipped off he may have fled to the area.
Dohrn was set to appear in court at 8:45 Wednesday morning on a long list of felony charges stemming from an arrest in early April, including two counts of receiving or transferring stolen vehicles, altering engine or VIN numbers, two counts of fraud over $2,500 and two counts of forgery.
He was also being held for several other felonies stemming from a March arrest, including three counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, bribery of a witness and criminal damage to property.
He pleaded guilty earlier this year to a stolen vehicle charge from March 2015.
Sheriff Gonzales said at the news conference he had also previously escaped jail in Oklahoma.
Some Dog Head Fire evacuees begin to return home; fire 61 percent contained
Some residents of Torrance and Bernalillo counties who were forced to evacuate their homes because of the Dog Head Fire returned to their properties Tuesday morning as authorities eased some evacuation orders, and more are set to return Wednesday.
People living in Torrance County south of La Para were able to head home starting at 8 a.m. Tuesday. Some Bernalillo County residents are also being allowed home, though some people living near Chilili have not yet been allowed back.
Post-evacuation return plans from Bernalillo County can be found here. The Department of Health has also issued an outline of precautions people returning home need to take. Click here to view.
At a 4:30 p.m. community meeting, officials said remaining residents of Bernalillo and Torrance counties will be able to return home Wednesday morning except for people who live on Aceves Road, La Para or in Manzano Morning. Officials said the meeting will likely be the last.
Sheriff’s deputies, National Guard and state police officers are stationed along main roads to check people’s identification as they return home.
PNM also Tuesday morning began reconnecting power to 368 customers in the mandatory evacuation zone who have been without power since last Tuesday, when it was cut to help firefighters and avoid further sparks.
The company will start with customers near NM 14 and will work toward 217 and south toward Chilili.
The state says several road closures will remain in place Tuesday: Raquel Road from Escabosa south to the Bernalillo County line will be closed.
People in the northeastern evacuation areas will have to return from the northeast.
Gov. Susana Martinez announced Tuesday she has directed the state Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to begin its recovery plan. She toured several burned-out properties Tuesday.
Gov. Martinez said Monday some looters had been caught and will be prosecuted. National Guard members remain at the scene to prevent further looting.
There was some confusion about that statement Tuesday morning, as both Bernalillo County and Torrance County initially denied any arrests were made. But BCSD confirmed Tuesday afternoon there were people that had been in communication with Torrance County who told dispatch that there were four suspicious people in the area.
Torrance County did intervene and issued citations for obstruction, an official said Tuesday.
An updated map of hot spots and the perimeter of the fire as of early Monday can be seen below. If you’re on a mobile device, click here to view.
FIRE REACHES 61 PERCENT CONTAINMENT
The fire reached 61 percent containment by Tuesday night and is estimated at 17,912 acres.
Officials said Monday the fire was human-caused but said they are still investigating the exact cause. The fire has burned 24 homes and 21 other structures over the past week.
Officials said the 938 personnel currently working the fire will again work Wednesday to maintain the perimeter and mop up hot spots.
A fire official estimated Monday afternoon the fire has so far cost around $4.5 million.
Gov. Martinez announced Monday she has requested the Federal Emergency Management Agency to perform damage assessments to the affected communities in order to determine if any extra assistance will be needed.
Both the money estimate and the additional FEMA requests come on the heels of state of emergency declarations both by the state and Bernalillo County, which will free up federal and local funds to help fight the fire. The state of emergency declaration by the state means federal funds will cover 75 percent of costs associated with helping fight the fire.
Many Dog Head Fire evacuees will be allowed home Tuesday; fire 46 percent contained
Some residents who have been forced to evacuate their homes due to the Dog Head Fire will be allowed back to their homes beginning at 8 a.m. Wednesday, as crews were able to bring the fire to 46 percent containment by just after nightfall.
The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department made the announcement Monday evening at a community meeting in Moriarty. Officials noted that there were no lives lost or serious injuries sustained in the fire, which drew a massive applause from the crowd.
Bernalillo County residents will be allowed back in beginning Tuesday morning. People living in Torrance County south of La Para will also be able to return home starting at 8 a.m. Tuesday. A re-entry pamphlet is available here with instructions on what people should do when they return to their property, as well as emergency and other resource contact information.
Sheriff’s deputies, National Guard and state police officers will be stationed along main roads to check people’s identification as they return home.
PNM also plans to start reconnecting power to residents starting at 6 a.m. Tuesday. Anyone using a backup generator is advised to turn it off by then if possible.
368 customers in the mandatory evacuation zone have been without power since last Tuesday, when it was cut to help firefighters and avoid further sparks.
The company will start with customers near NM 14 and will work toward 217 and south toward Chilili.
The state says several road closures will remain in place Tuesday: Raquel Road from Escabosa south to the Bernalillo County line.
People in the northeastern evacuation areas will have to return from the northeast.
Officials said some looters had been caught and will be prosecuted. National Guard members remain at the scene to prevent further looting.
FIRE ESTIMATED AT NEARLY 18,000 ACRES
The Dog Head Fire in the northern Manzano Mountains was estimated at just under 18,000 acres in size Monday night as crews were able to make significant headway into containing the fire, which sat at 46 percent containment at 9:30 p.m. It was only 9 percent contained at 8 a.m.
Monday afternoon, a fire official said the fire has so far cost around $4.5 million and said it was human-caused, and did not start as a prescribed burn. Officials have not said exactly how it started, but Monday was the first word that it was definitely human-caused.
New Mexico Gov. Martinez toured areas behind fire lines that burned last week, including several properties, Monday afternoon. She also announced she has requested the Federal Emergency Management Agency to perform damage assessments to the affected communities in order to determine if any extra assistance will be needed.
Both the money estimate and the additional FEMA requests come on the heels of state of emergency declarations both by the state and Bernalillo County, which will free up federal and local funds to help fight the fire. The state of emergency declaration by the state means federal funds will cover 75 percent of costs associated with helping fight the fire.
“Even as our state, local, and federal partners continue to move forward with our coordinated response around the clock to protect lives and property, it’s important for us to begin preparing for the aftermath as well, and this request is part of that process,” the governor said in a news release. “We will continue to look for all available resources at our disposal to assist the communities affected by the Dog Head Fire.”
The fire’s growth stagnated Sunday, when it grew only about 300 acres – a vast improvement over the days before, when it exploded thousands of acres due to low humidity levels and high heat.
Fire officials say the 995 crew members working the fire will work Tuesday to maintain its perimeter and continue mop-up efforts.
Higher humidity levels helped slow growth Sunday, but drier air could make hot spots more active Monday, officials said.
As the wind blows in from the southeast Monday, the east side is expected to be the most active side of the fire once again Monday. But the wind could switch to blow in from the east later in the day, which could threaten lines on the western side of the fire.
The New Mexico Department of Health said Monday it expects smoke from the fire to be less severe in coming days.
An updated map of hot spots and the perimeter of the fire as of early Monday can be seen below. If you’re on a mobile device, click here to view.
Twenty-four homes and 21 structures have burned in the fire so far, though none have burned since late last week.
Officials say the main focus for crews at this point is still suppressing the fire. It currently sits at 17,891 acres.
Expo New Mexico said Monday morning it was hosting more than 50 animals at the state fairgrounds, which started accepting animals needing shelter from the fire late last week.
An Albuquerque woman who spent much of her life in Chilili has made shirts emblazoned with the community’s name and satellite coordinates. She is selling them for $30, $20 of which will go to the Los Vecinos shelter and the families staying there. There are also similar shirts for Escabosa and the Chilili Hotshots. Click here to see and buy the shirts.
Resources for evacuees and those wanting to help can be found below:
Infrared mapping shows Dog Head Fire at 16,751 acres; more National Guard being brought in
The Dog Head Fire raging in the northern Manzano Mountains has grown to 16,751 acres, according to the latest infrared mapping done by fire officials.
The latest evacuation map from Bernalillo County can be found by clicking here. Any residents who have to return to an area under mandatory evacuation orders will have to check with the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department beforehand and will have to show ID.
Gov. Susana Martinez announced at a community meeting in Tijeras during the afternoon that more National Guard service members were being brought in to help fight the fire. There had been 40 dispatched to the fire as of Thursday night.
So far the fire, in its fourth day, destroyed 24 homes and 21 other buildings in Bernalillo and Torrance counties. Many of the lost homes were in Torrance County, according to fire officials.
There is still no containment and 628 personnel have responded. Officials at the main command post say close to 1,000 firefighters are expected to be at the fire by Friday night.
The transition to a Type-1 crew, which includes the most-experienced crews, will likely occur Saturday.
The blaze continues its easterly movement and is 12 miles due west of McIntosh and 11 miles southwest of Edgewood. It is holding on south and west of State Highway 337 and ½ mile west of Chilili.
The Sandia Ranger District has closed lands, roads and trails south of I-40 in the ranger district. A full list of trail and road closures in the area can be found here.
Below is a map of the boundaries of the fire and hot spots as of 7:06 a.m. Friday. If you’re on a mobile device, click here.
COMMUNITY MEETINGS HELD IN TIJERAS AND ESTANCIA
Two community meetings will be held this evening. The first was held at Roosevelt Middle School in Tijeras at 4:30 p.m. The gym where the meeting was held was almost at capacity just before the meeting started.
Gov. Martinez announced that more National Guard troops are being brought in.
Officials also reiterated to people who had evacuated but are concerned about looting at their homes that about 20 deputies and 30 National Guard members are patrolling the area and protecting homes. Officials said there have been no reported burglaries thus far.
The East Torrance Soil & Water Conservation District Complex Building at 700 10th St. in Estacia hosts another meeting at 7 p.m. That meeting was originally scheduled to take place at the Estancia Courthouse but changed locations.
EVACUATIONS STILL IN PLACE
In Bernalillo County, mandatory evacuations remain in effect from the Anaya Road-Highway 337 junction southward to the Torrance County line. The evacuation zone includes Chilili, Escobosa, Los Seis Hermanos Estates, Marianette Ranch Estates, Yrisarri and Pondreosa Pines.
Voluntary evacuations are in place for the area two miles east of the mandatory evacuation zone.
The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department wrote on Twitter NM 337 remains closed at 217. Deputies completed the evacuation in the area but will stay on patrol.
Torrance County also has mandatory evacuations from the county line south to State Highway 55 and from Highway 337 to the west.
“Don’t refuse a mandatory evacuation. You have to leave your home. Your life cannot be replaced,” New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez said Thursday after surveying the fire by air. “Don’t take any of those unnecessary risks because you are also putting others at risk.”
Several resources are available for residents and evacuees. Click here for that information.
On Thursday, the National Weather Service implemented an air quality alert for central New Mexico, including the Albuquerque metro area. Dr. Yohannes Tesfaigz from Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute discussed the danger with KOB.
CONGRESSWOMAN UPDATED ON FIRE SITUATION
U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who represents the First Congressional District, visited the Dog Head Fire Command Center at Estancia High School Friday morning. She also attended a co-operating agency meeting at the county courthouse.
“We’ve got federal resources to deal with the fire and continue to manage this emergency,” she said. “Now we need the other resources because that federal effort, that declaration, is not going to replace property or livestock.”
Lujan Grisham said she plans to spearhead the effort for federal assistant in tackling the fire. That includes her staff from Albuquerque and Washington to the area for support.
She praised the firefighters for their efforts.
“They’ve really minimized the loss of complete homes, which is incredible,” she said. “But nonetheless your property – farmers, ranchers or homesteaders – is damaged and destroyed.”
VOLUNTEERS SET UP TO HELP
A full list of people offering services for people and animals can be found here. It also has needs for various shelters for people wanting to donate goods or services.
At the Los Vecinos shelter in Tijeras, the Southern Baptist Convention organized a portable kitchen to provide evacuees with food. The kitchen can serve 5,000 people, but volunteers expect only around 100 Friday night for a spaghetti dinner.
The kitchen and volunteers will be at the shelter providing meals throughout the weekend. On Sunday, they will determine if they are needed beyond that.
“We’re able to help people that are in need,” volunteer Barbara Long said. “And so, you know, we’re providing a basic need that they have. But we’re also here if they need to talk.”
The New Mexico State Fairgrounds in Albuquerque is now open to accept all livestock evacuations, including fowl.
Dozens of homes, structures lost as Dog Head Fire grows to 16,000+ acres
Editor’s Note: The story below is all the updates from Thursday.Updates beginning Friday can be found here.
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ALBUQUERQUE, NM — Twenty-four homes and 21 other structures had burned as of Thursday night in Bernalillo and Torrance counties as the Dog Head Fire grew to more than 16,000 acres during the day in the northern Manzano Mountains.
The fire remains uncontained and mandatory evacuations remain in place for several parts of Bernalillo and Torrance counties. Continue reading
Suspect in deadly southwest Albuquerque carjacking shot and killed by law enforcement
The suspect in a carjacking murder that happened Wednesday night in southwest Albuquerque was shot and killed in a gun battle with police officers and sheriff’s deputies early Thursday morning.
The suspect was killed near Unser and Central after a pursuit that ended in an exchange of gunfire. The intersection reopened Thursday afternoon after being closed for more than 12 hours.
Deputies were dispatched to a shooting and carjacking at the Auto Zone in the 3200 block of Coors SW just before 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and found a man dead.
The man was identified Santiago Romero-Amaya, 64. He worked for years at Wood Moulding Specialties, Inc. and was a father and grandfather.
The suspect killed by police has yet to be identified, but was described after the carjacking murder as a small-framed, Hispanic man in his early 20s.
The suspect took Romero-Amaya’s car – a red Jeep Patriot – and fled the scene of the carjacking.
Deputies and police came upon him in the car early Thursday morning and pursued him as he fled.
At one point, a spike strip was successfully deployed, though Bernalillo County Sheriff Manny Gonzales said at a 2:30 a.m. news conference the suspect continued to drive.
Eventually, near Victory, a PIT maneuver was performed on the suspect’s vehicle. He stopped and exchanged gunfire with Albuquerque police officers and Bernalillo County sheriff’s deputies.
The stolen car the man was driving caught fire, and he was removed from the car, Sheriff Gonzales said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
An APD officer was shot in the chest during the shooting, but was hit in his bulletproof vest and sustained only bruising. The officer was taken to a local hospital and treated.
Sheriff Gonzales said BCSD is the lead on the incident but APD is involved as well. Officers and deputies had yet to be interviewed as of Thursday morning.
A captain with the sheriff’s department advised against anyone trying to fight for their car in the event of a carjacking.
“It absolutely could happen to anybody and my advice to the general public is if somebody wants your car, just give it to them. It is not worth your life,” said Cpt. Andi Taylor. “That’s not to say cowards like this won’t just shoot you anyway. But if you have the opportunity to give up the car, give up the car.”
Sequoyah treatment center employee accused of inappropriate relationship with inmate
An employee of Albuquerque’s Sequoyah Adolescent Treatment Center has been charged with one count of criminal sexual contact of a minor for a relationship she allegedly had with one of the inmates at the center.
35-year-old Amber Lucero is accused of kissing, holding hands with and touching one of the male inmates over the past year-and-a-half before the inmate was transferred to another facility.
A criminal complaint for Lucero’s arrest says the alleged relationship was brought to the attention of New Mexico State Police by a family member of the inmate’s on June 9.
Police interviewed the inmate, who confirmed his relationship with Lucero began in the latter half of 2014 and has continued since.
The complaint says both the inmate and Lucero confirmed the relationship progressed very gradually over that time period.
It eventually led to the two kissing in a spot at the center unseen by surveillance cameras. The inmate allegedly touched her breasts while they kissed.
The criminal complaint says the relationship never progressed further than that, but that the relationship moved further than it should have.
“It happened because I cared and I treated him like a human being and I overstepped my boundaries in becoming too much of a friend with him and caring too much,” Lucero allegedly told police.
The complaint says the two had maintained contact after the inmate was moved to a different facility in March, and that they would communicate by sending each other letters. Lucero used an alias so as to not raise any flags about their communication, police said.
Lucero’s charge carries a $2,500 cash or surety bond. The inmate is only referred to in the complaint as “N.G.,” though KOB does not name victims of sexual crimes.
Sandoval Co. Sheriff’s Office releases names of 3 suspects in bloody murder
The Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday released the names of the three men accused of murdering three people and burying their bodies in a shallow grave on San Felipe Pueblo.
The three men charged in the murders are Alberto Rodriguez, of Los Lunas; Samuel Jimenez-Perez and Omar Flores-Castillo, of Albuquerque. Jimenez-Perez’s address was listed as the Sandoval County Detention Center.
All three are charged with three counts of capital murder, three counts of first-degree kidnapping, conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, tampering with evidence to wit, receiving or transferring stolen vehicles and extreme cruelty to animals – all felonies.
Rodriguez and Jimenez-Perez were both arrested June 10. The warrant for Flores-Castillo’s arrest did not note that he had been arrested.
The sheriff’s office identified the victims June 9 as 32-year-old John Santistevan and 48-year-old Geraldine Sena. Lt. Keith Elder, the SCSO spokesman, said that day the third body is likely that of 25-year-old Samuel Sena, but the Office of the Medical Investigator is working to positively identify it as Sena.
Lt. Elder says investigators believe the third body is the younger Sena because all three were reported missing March 17 by various family members. The three bodies were found miles away from anabandoned, blood-soaked pickup truck that was found nearDiamond Tail Ranch Feb. 29 and was linked to their murders.
Sandoval Co. detectives and Homeland Security Investigation have received information the three had connections with people transporting stolen vehicles from Albuquerque to Mexico and were involved in drug trafficking, mail theft and other felonies.
Lt. Elder added that the three were in a pickup truck similar to the bloody one found near the ranch the night before it was found.
Lt. Elder said June 9 the suspects would also face federal charges, but those have yet to be filed.
Man charged for false threat to Albuquerque City Hall building
The man Albuquerque police arrested Monday afternoon amid a false active shooting and hostage situation report crawled through a window in the city hall lobby and started yelling that there was a shooter in the building.
KOB cameras caught 28-year-old Daniel Olguin being led from City Hall in handcuffs Monday afternoon as SWAT teams swept the building.
He faces one charge of breaking and entering and two charges of false imprisonment – all felonies.
According to a criminal complaint for his arrest, Olguin was the initiator of the entire incident.
After officers were dispatched to the building when several people called 911 to report an active shooter, they came upon Olguin on the first floor – where one of the callers was hiding.
An officer wrote in his criminal complaint that he appeared to be under the influence of narcotics and was nervous.
One of the women who called police said they saw Olguin try and enter the lobby through a door, which was locked. So he instead crawled through a small security window at the customer service counter and began shouting that there was a shooter in the building.
The caller and another woman barricaded themselves behind a door and called police. At one point, Olguin came up to the door and asked if the doors were locked. The women would not leave the office, saying they feared for their lives.
After hours of sweeping the 11 floors and basement of the building, police gave the all-clear early Tuesday morning.
Olguin is being held on a $12,500 cash or surety bond at the Metropolitan Detention Center.
Police continue sweep of Albuquerque City Hall after ‘possible hostage situation’
Albuquerque police have locked down the Albuquerque City Hall building due to what the department called a possible hostage situation, and SWAT teams are sweeping the building.
However, police spokesman Tanner Tixier said at a 7:25 news conference that there was “no confirmation” anyone in the building was being held hostage.
The sweep was ongoing as of 10 p.m.
The scene at 4th and Marquette began just before 6 p.m. The Albuquerque Police Department initially called the incident a “possible active shooter” situation.
But police said at 6:30 p.m. that there was “no evidence of an active shooter” and that officers were “trying to confirm if there’s an active hostage situation.”
At 6:45 p.m., APD spokesman Tanner Tixier said there was “no confirmation of an active shooter or that any shots were fired.” He said officers were trying to determine or confirm if there is a hostage situation.
One man has been detained in the incident and is being questioned, according to Tixier. He was seen being led out of City Hall by police by a KOB photographer. Tixier said there was no word yet on his role.
Another man was seen being led out of the parking garage in handcuffs not long after 7 p.m. Police said at a 7:25 p.m. news conference that the man will likely not be charged and was caught in “the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Tixier said it is “very possible” the threat could have been a hoax, saying everyone was on high alert after the terrorism incident in Orlando, Florida.
SWAT officers are sweeping the building floor-by-floor. Several people who had been trapped inside have since been released. Tixier said the sweeps were taking time because of the size of the building, which has 11 floors and a basement.
He said dispatch initially received calls there was a possible active shooter in the building’s basement and on the first and 10th floors.
Several city councilors were trapped on the ninth floor of the building while it was placed on lockdown. All are OK, City Councilor Pat Davis told KOB.
“This one seemed real,” Davis told KOB after he was led out of the building by SWAT officers.
There are numerous officers in the area that have surrounded Albuquerque City Hall. All residents and drivers are asked to avoid the downtown area.
KOB has several reporters and photographers at the scene.
This is a developing news story. Stay posted to KOB.com and KOB Eyewitness News 4 for the latest updates.