Albuquerque
4 arrested or cited at ABQ Trump rally; police seek info for more arrests
Four people were arrested or cited and about a dozen were detained at the Albuquerque Donald Trump rally Tuesday, Albuquerque police said Wednesday.
Three people arrested and cited were all inside the Albuquerque Convention Center, where Trump’s rally was held. Another was arrested outside.
Police say two juveniles inside the rally were cited and released to their parents. Continue reading
Damage to buildings, OT for cops and firefighters will cost taxpayers $50K after Trump rally
The city of Albuquerque says damage from unruly protests that followed Tuesday’s Donald Trump rally, combined with overtime for police officers and dispatch workers, will cost taxpayers at least $50,000.
An estimated 8,000 people attended the Trump rally and 1,000 people are estimated to have protested outside. Continue reading
Graphic lapel camera video released of APD shooting that left man likely brain-dead, 10 officers on leave
After 11 months, the Albuquerque Police Department on Friday released lapel video and reports from an officer-involved shooting in southwest Albuquerque last May that put 10 APD officers on administrative leave and left the suspect who was shot likely brain-dead.
On May 28, 2015, APD officers tried to pull over Rodrigo Garcia, who was then 20 years old and allegedly driving a stolen car, near 62nd Street and Trujillo SW. Continue reading
DOJ report: UNM’s sexual assault policies not compliant with Title IX, need improvement
The U.S. Department of Justice Friday announced that the University of New Mexico’s handling of sexual harassment and assault reports by students does not comply with federal law and said many students are reluctant to report such matters because they lack confidence in the school’s response.
The Justice Department had investigated the university since December 2014 after a series of on-campus incidents and looked at UNM’s policies and practices for preventing sex crimes and for investigating and responding to students’ complaints.
The university worked in the months afterward to create campaigns aimed at stopping sexual violence, including the LoboRESPECT program. It also in the past had pointed to a task force on sexual violence it created in 2014 as showing the university was working toward solutions.
The report from the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division and Educational Opportunities Section, which was delivered to UNM President Robert Frank Friday, says that despite “strengthened” programs and responses to the issues, the university remains out of compliance with Title IX and Title IV.
The letter says students, faculty and staff “lacked basic understanding about reporting options, duties and obligations, as well as where to turn for help.”
The Justice Department also found “significant” gaps in training and procedures when it came to investigating sexual harassment and assault allegations, which it said led to confusion, delays and distress.
The report also found that students had difficulty finding support at the university after incidents, which sometimes led to negative impacts in the classroom and even altogether withdrawal from the university.
The DOJ’s conclusion to the report notes five pointed measures UNM will have to put in place in order to comply with Title IX:
- Provide comprehensive and effective training to all students, faculty and staff that gives notice of UNM’s prohibition on sexual harassment, including sexual assault; information about reporting options, duties and obligations; details on where to go for assistance; and information on grievance procedures and potential outcomes;
- Revise UNM’s policies, procedures and investigative practices to provide a grievance procedure that ensures prompt and equitable resolution of sexual harassment and sexual assault allegations;
- Adequately investigate or respond to all allegations by students who have alleged sexual assault or sexual harassment, including allegations of retaliation for reporting sexual assault or sexual harassment;
- Take prompt and effective steps to eliminate a hostile environment, prevent its reoccurrence and address its effects; and
- Ensure that the individuals designated to coordinate Title IX efforts receive adequate training and coordinate these efforts effectively.
The Justice Department said it will continue to work with the university to implement the necessary changes, and said UNM was fully cooperative with its investigation.
“Our findings reveal how a flawed system for responding to sexual assault fails all those involved – from victims seeking adequate protection, to accused students demanding fair hearings, to faculty looking for clear instruction,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the department’s Civil Rights Division, in a news release.
The Associated Press reported earlier this month that the number of sexual assault and harassment reports at UNM tripled between 2014 and 2015, though the university attributed the rise to better education and reporting awareness. Staff members have been trained over the past year on how to deal with such reports.
“UNM is not alone in trying to deal with one of the most difficult problems on today’s college campuses,” President Robert G. Frank said in a press release from the university after the report was announced. “While we respect the efforts of the DOJ, we believe its report is an inaccurate and incomplete picture of our university. It is a brief snapshot in time that came on the heels of a high profile and widely publicized accusation of a sexual assault involving UNM students. Even so, we receive it in a spirit of cooperation and pledge to continue our campus wide improvements to combat this complex issue.”
“The DOJ’s findings are deeply troubling, and they highlight the complexity of these issues,” said New Mexico Attorney General Balderas. “We have to do a better job of protecting our students’ civil rights and providing them with safe environments conducive to learning. This trend is unacceptable, and I am committed to working with all stakeholders to help address these issues.”
NM statewide graduation rates down since last year
The New Mexico Public Education Department on Friday released statewide graduation rates for the class of 2014-15, which shows declines in rates in most categories over the year before, though numbers remain up since the beginning of Gov. Susana Martinez’s administration.
Statewide graduation rates fell by 0.7 percent in the 2014-15 school year over the year before – from 69.3 percent to 68.6 percent. Those declines were seen most sharply in migrant students, who saw a 25 percent decrease in graduation rates.
Other sharp declines were seen in the African American population (down 3.3 percent) and the Asian population (down 6.5 percent). Rates for Caucasian students fell by 2.1 percent from the year before.
Graduation rates improved slightly for American Indian students (up 1.2 percent) and students with disabilities (1.9 percent).
The state’s largest district, Albuquerque Public Schools, saw year-over-year declines in every group aside from students with disabilities, whose rates were up 4.8 percent.
But Asian (down 7.8 percent), American Indian (down 5.8 percent) and African American students (down 5.6 percent) all saw steep year-over-year declines in graduation rates.
SKANDERA TOUTS RATE INCREASE SINCE RICHARDSON ADMINISTRATION
Education Secretary Hanna Skandera touted the administration’s increase in overall graduation rates since the last school year of the Bill Richardson administration – the 2010-11 school year.
Graduation rates statewide for all students increased 5.6 percent over that time period. The biggest increases were in students with disabilities (12.3 percent), ESL students (8.1 percent), Hispanic students (7.9 percent) and economically-disadvantaged students (7.1 percent).
But when comparing Skandera’s first year as secretary-designate, the 2011-12 school year, to this past year’s rates, the results are not as flattering: graduation rates for students statewide have declined by 1.8 percent, which includes a 10.4 percent decrease in migrant graduation rates and an 8.3 percent decrease among African American students.
The only graduation rate increase over that time period has been a 3.3 percent increase in students with disabilities.
“While our graduation rate remains higher than when we first took office, we still have to get more of our kids across the graduation finish line,” Skandera said in a statement.
Rio Rancho and Las Cruces districts also saw rates decline since last year. But districts in Santa Fe, Bernalillo, Bloomfield, Clovis and Espanola all saw increases – some by more than 5 percent.
Belen saw its graduation rate jump by 14 percent over the past year.
View a breakdown of state and APS numbers here. For reports from all districts over the past several years, click here.
FBI, DHS flew secret surveillance missions over Albuquerque in recent months
ALBUQUERQUE, NM — Multiple surveillance aircraft equipped with high-tech thermal imaging cameras and “augmented reality” systems have been flying over Albuquerque since last fall, piloted by FBI and Department of Homeland Security agents.
KOB has confirmed at least two planes owned by the FBI through shell companies have flown multiple missions – sometimes for more than an hour at a time – over the city. A Buzzfeed News investigation shows even more planes have also flown over the city, though those could not be independently confirmed by KOB. Continue reading
Search warrant details casino shooting that left man dead, officer wounded
A federal search warrant unsealed last Thursday says the man shot and killed by a Laguna officer at Route 66 Casino struggled with the officer and pulled a gun before he was killed.
The FBI has released minimal information regarding the shooting, which left Mario Sandoval dead. Officer Peter Tanzilli was shot during the altercation.
The search warrant, which was executed March 25 on the silver Lexus Sandoval and another man arrived in to the casino, details the events that led to the shooting.
It says the men pulled into the casino parking lot in the Lexus just before midnight March 23. The car had been reported stolen the day before, allegedly by Sandoval.
As Sandoval and the still-unidentified man approached the casino after parking, they were confronted by Tanzilli at gunpoint. The FBI released lapel video from Tanzilli just hours after the shooting showing the initial confrontation.
What the video did not show, and what is detailed in the warrant, is that when Tanzilli confronted the two – and after the unidentified man ran off – Tanzilli took Sandoval to the ground.
As Tanzilli tried to handcuff him, Sandoval allegedly turned onto his back, pulled out a gun and shot Tanzilli in the pelvis. The warrant says Tanzilli fell to the ground and returned fire, hitting Sandoval.
Sandoval was found outside the driver’s side of the stolen Lexus, which “appeared” to have bullet holes in it, according to the warrant.
The warrant search turned up Sandoval’s license, seven different cellphones, two glass pipes, a scale, a 9mm cartridge case and a bullet.
Albuquerque settles civil suit with undercover officer shot by own lieutenant for $6.5M
The city of Albuquerque has settled a federal civil lawsuit involving an undercover Albuquerque police detective who was shot by his own lieutenant in what the department called a botched drug bust in Jan. 2015 for $6.5 million.
The suit was originally filed last August. A U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge said Wednesday morning she had received notice of the settlement involving undercover officer Jacob Grant and his lieutenant, Greg Brachle, according to court records. Continue reading
Injured Laguna officer named; 1 dead, 1 sought after shooting at Route 66 Casino
The FBI says a Laguna police officer was shot Thursday morning at Route 66 Casino, but suffered only non-life threatening injuries.
The shooting happened around 12:30 a.m. The FBI said Thursday morning that one suspect died in the officer-involved shooting and that one person was still on the loose. Neither of those people have been identified.
Laguna Pueblo police Thursday afternoon identified the officer who was wounded as 37-year-old Peter Tanzilli, a five-year veteran of the department.
The pueblo said Tanzilli is a U.S. Air Force veteran. He is in stable condition at UNM Hospital.
Earlier Thursday morning, the FBI released lapel video of the suspects and a silver Lexus, with New Mexico plate NAJ 489, that the suspects arrived in at the casino just before midnight. Officers had been investigating the car as stolen, according to the FBI.
The video contains multiple pictures of the vehicle and lapel camera of an officer confronting two suspects.
One of the suspects is seen fleeing the officer. That man was wearing black shorts with a white stripe, a black jacket with white trim and black shoes with a white sole.
The FBI says that man is the suspect who is still wanted and on the run. Anyone with information on the shooting or suspect at large is asked to contact the FBI’s Albuquerque office at 505-889-1300.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs, New Mexico State Police, and Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department all assisted the FBI with the investigation.
The case is still under investigation. Stay with KOB.com for updates.
Dept. of Health confirms first Zika virus case in NM
The first case of Zika virus in New Mexico has been confirmed by the state Department of Health.
Deputy Secretary of Health Lynn Gallagher said at a 6 p.m. news conference the patient is a 46-year-old Bernalillo County man who contracted the virus while traveling in El Salvador.
Gallagher said the Centers for Disease Control confirmed the positive test Friday. Testing was conducted in Fort Collins, Colorado.
“We have anticipated that travel-related cases would be identified in New Mexico,” said Gallagher. “We have been working closely with CDC to prepare for Zika cases in New Mexico.”
The Zika virus is transmitted primarily through mosquitos, but can also be transmitted through semen. The CDC has recommended that men and pregnant women traveling to affected areas abstain from sex or use condoms.
The CDC says that as of March 16, there have been 258 cases of Zika reported in the United States. 18 of those people were pregnant women and six of their cases were sexually transmitted.
The New Mexico Department of Health reminded everyone to be mindful of what regions in the world the Zika virus is circulating before traveling. The man infected first felt sick while still in El Salvador. He came back to New Mexico to see a doctor and was tested for the virus. The CDC confirmed he tested positive, but that doesn’t mean New Mexicans should be panicking about an outbreak here at home just yet.
Dr. Fermin Arguello, Medical Epidemiologist with the New Mexico Department of Health says, “the primary reason for that is that in the area where he lives, there’s not known to be the mosquito that actually is capable of transmitting that virus. So we’re not concerned that this is a threat to New Mexico in regards to causing cycles of transmission here.”
The county doesn’t have the mosquito that transmits the virus, however there’s a risk of it being transmitted sexually. Representatives from the Department of Health tell us this man, who they say has recovered, has been educated on the risks. Although right now, there’s no knowledge of how long the virus can stay in your system.
A list of countries affected by the virus can be found here.
For more information about Zika virus, visithttp://nmhealth.org/news/information/2016/2/?view=387 andhttp://www.cdc.gov/zika/pregnancy/index.html.
This is a developing news story; stay posted to KOB.com for the latest updates.