Crime
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.
Las Cruces settles officer rape lawsuit for $3M
The city of Las Cruces on Tuesday agreed to settle the case of a former Las Cruces Police Department intern who was raped by an officer inside his patrol car for $3 million.
Dianna Guererro was raped by former Officer Michael Garcia and sued the police department, saying the department had a culture of sexism and inappropriate behavior that allowed people like Garcia to be preyed upon. Continue reading
Man being transported to MDC temporarily escapes custody
A man being transported to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Bernalillo County was able to escape police custody for a short time Wednesday afternoon before he was caught.
22-year-old Joseph Maestas was arrested by US Marshals Task Force officers Wednesday morning on four felony and two misdemeanor warrants. APD says he also had heroin on him when he was arrested after a short foot chase.
When he was taken to MDC around 12:45 p.m., he was able to slip his handcuffs to the front of his body while still in a transport van, according to APD.
Once the van arrived to the secure parking lot outside the jail, he fled past transport officers as they unloaded the inmates.
Maestas was able to climb over a 25-foot fence surrounding the parking lot and run into the mesa south of the jail.
Law enforcement officers were able to get him back into custody after APD says Maestas “gave up.” He was then taken to a hospital after complaining of a medical issue.
Just last week, officers statewide searched for two inmates who escaped Department of Corrections custody while en route from Santa Fe to Las Cruces. Both were arrested days later.
Murderer, 2nd inmate escape van in southeastern New Mexico; police come up empty on search in NW ABQ
UPDATE (1:02 a.m.): APD spokesman Daren DeAguero said the perimeter search was concluded as of 1 a.m. Friday and the suspects were not found.
DeAguero advised anyone who sees the suspects to contact police immediately.
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ALBUQUERQUE, NM — New Mexico State Police are searching for a convicted murderer and a violent inmate who escaped from a prisoner transport van in the Artesia area Wednesday night.
The Department of Corrections says 32-year-old Joseph Cruz and 29-year-old Lionel Clah escaped Wednesday night while en route from Roswell to Las Cruces. Continue reading
APD lieutenant who shot undercover officer in botched drug bust files for retirement
The Albuquerque Police Department lieutenant accused of shooting his own undercover officer in a botched drug bust in January 2015 filed for retirement Monday.
APD spokeswoman Celina Espinoza confirmed to KOB Lt. Greg Brachle purchased PERA retirement fund time and filed for retirement. Continue reading
Judge: Teen who killed family will remain in state custody until age 21
A Children’s Court judge says the teenager who killed five of his family members in 2013 will remain in state custody until he turns 21.
Nehemiah Griego, now 18, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death last October.
Griego was 15 when authorities said he shot and killed his parents and three younger siblings in their South Valley home in January 2013. Continue reading
Los Lunas man arrested for murder after allegedly cutting girlfriend’s throat
New Mexico State Police arrested a Los Lunas man Tuesday on a murder charge after he allegedly cut his girlfriend’s throat Monday.
State police were first called out to a home on JD Road in Tome Monday and found the woman dead.
Police arrested Michael Ray Rodriguez, 19, Tuesday on an open count of murder. Witnesses told state police Rodriguez was the last person seen with the victim before she was found dead.
State police said they found Rodriguez in his vehicle with what appeared to be blood stains on his clothes and shoes.
He has been booked into the Valencia County Detention Center on the murder charge. The victim’s name has not been released.
Dianna Duran withdraws motion to reconsider probation terms
Former New Mexico Secretary of State Dianna Duran and her attorney have withdrawn a motion that asked a judge to reconsider her terms of probation.
Duran and her attorney, Erlinda Johnson, filed the motion in First Judicial District Court Tuesday afternoon, the Santa Fe County Clerk’s Office confirmed to KOB.
Duran was sentenced to 30 days in jail and five years of probation for misusing campaign funds to pay off casino debts. As part of her conditions of probation, Duran is required to make four public appearances per month for the next three years to speak about her career and mistakes to civic groups and schools.
But Johnson filed a motion in February that likened those appearances to “public shaming,” rather than rehabilitation.
“Seemingly, these required weekly public appearances are tantamount to public shaming, similar to the defendant required to display a bumper sticker advertising ‘convicted felon’ or “convicted DWI,'” that motion read.
The motion also states these public speaking appearances could endanger Duran’s life, citing online comments on news stories about Duran.
Duran’s attorney requested the judge reduce the public speaking requirement to one per month.
In the original motion, her attorney also requested a reduction in Duran’s community service hours from 2,000 to 1,000 due to her role as a caregiver for her three grandsons.
Duran also wanted the judge to allow her to travel throughout the state without having to obtain authorization from the probation office.
Attorney General Hector Balderas said days after the motion was filed that he and his office objected to the request to reconsider.
“The Office of the Attorney General noted our opposition to Ms. Duran’s motion, as filed with the court, and we are pleased with this outcome,” said AG’s Office spokesman James Hallinan.
This story was originally published at KOB.com
Police: Child found dead in NE Albuquerque home; suspect arrested
Albuquerque police found a 1-year-old child dead at a home in northeast Albuquerque Monday afternoon and arrested a man in connection to the death.
APD spokesman Tanner Tixier said officers and detectives were first called out to a home in the 300 block of Rhode Island NE around 3:30 p.m. Monday.
Rescuers were unable to revive the child, who was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Tixier.
Tixier said police arrested 28-year-old Jorge Ortega in connection with the child’s death. KOB cameras caught Ortega being arrested and taken from the scene.
Ortega was booked just after midnight Tuesday on one count of child abuse resulting in death. He is being held without bond at the Metropolitan Detention Center.
Ex-state senator facing fraud, bribery charges
A former New Mexico state senator is facing nine criminal counts, including fraud and bribery.
In a statement from the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office, Phil Griego, a Democratic senator from Ribera who resigned last year, allegedly used his role as a legislator to receive personal compensation, which he then failed to disclose in filings required of legislators.
Griego resigned last year amid scrutiny over a real estate deal involving a state-owned building in Santa Fe.
The criminal complaint and request for summons filed Monday in First Judicial District Court says the Attorney General’s Office has been investigating Griego since April 27 of last year. He resigned March 14.
The criminal complaint says that the charges revolve around the sale of a Santa Fe building from the New Mexico Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) to Galisteo Street, Inc. (GSI).
GSI originally agreed to lease the property in Sept. 2012 and agreed to pay for maintenance costs and $250,000 in renovations. A year later, EMNRD agreed to sell the building to GSI, which required legislative approval.
Griego was tabbed to start the process in the state legislature by EMNRD Deputy Cabinet Secretary Brett Woods, and Griego got in touch with another senator to help sponsor the resolution, according to the criminal complaint.
The complaint alleges Griego presented the resolution, HJR 8, to a Senate committee and failed to raise flags the next day “as inaccurate and incomplete information” on the lease and sale was presented on the Senate floor.
The AG’s Office says that as GSI’s agent, Griego earned $50,000 in commissions that he never disclosed to the state. He also allegedly did not tell a broker who he owed 20 percent of commissions to about the transaction, then shorted another broker his commission as well.
According to state law, the AG’s Office contests that Griego’s interest and ations in the contract could invalidate it.
Griego is charged with two counts of violations of ethical principles of public service, bribery and solicitation, three counts of fraud, one count of perjury, one count of tampering with public records and with violating the Financial Disclosure Act.
Critics say it was unethical for him to profit from a legislative action.
When reached by phone Monday, Griego simply said, “I did nothing wrong,” and did not elaborate further, saying he was meeting with his attorney Tuesday and did not want to comment on an ongoing case. He did say he would fight the charges.
Gov. Susana Martinez appointed Sen. Ted Barela, R-Estancia, to Griego’s vacated seat last April.