New Mexico
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
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.
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
NM Health Dept. secretary dies in crash; medical episode suspected as cause
SANTA FE – New Mexico Department of Health Secretary Retta Ward died after a single-vehicle crash in Santa Fe Thursday morning.
According to the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office, Ward was traveling north on Buckman Road when her vehicle left the roadway for unknown reasons. The vehicle came to a stop on a small embankment off the road.
Investigators believe Ward may have suffered a life-threatening episode in her vehicle because she did not suffer trauma from the crash, according to the sheriff’s office.
“Secretary Ward was an exceptional leader, passionate about improving health for all New Mexicans. She was also passionate about making the Department of Health the best place to work in New Mexico. She valued and appreciated her colleagues. For many of us, she was more than a boss, a colleague, and a mentor. She was a true friend,” Health Department spokesman Kenny Vigil wrote in a statement.
Gov. Susana Martinez tapped Ward to serve as cabinet secretary of the Department of Health in 2013. She also previously served as the cabinet secretary of the Aging and Long Term Services Department.
“I am completely heartbroken to hear that Cabinet Secretary Retta Ward has passed away,” Martinez said in a statement. “She was an amazing public servant who enjoyed her job immensely and earned the respect of her fellow colleagues. Retta joined my administration in 2011, and approached improving public health in our state with great passion and a quiet confidence that helped her bring people together. She was kind and caring – always.”
Below is a joint statement from Secretaries Myles Copeland, Brent Earnest, and Kelly Zunie on behalf of Governor Martinez’s cabinet:
“Our friend and colleague Retta Ward passed away this morning. This news is heartbreaking in so many ways. Retta was a friend and role model to all of us. She was kind and caring in every way, which showed in her work and friendship. We were always inspired by her tireless dedication to the people of New Mexico, and her work to make our state the healthiest in the country. Her work will live on. She’d been with the administration since the beginning, and we worked with her day in and day out. She led by example in treating her staff with dignity and respect, and always demonstrated a passion for building a healthier New Mexico. We’re going to miss Retta’s quiet confidence and strength, and we’re grateful to have had the opportunity to work with, learn from, and get to know her. Retta’s loss leaves us all with heavy hearts today, and we will pray for Retta and her family and friends through this difficult time, and we ask New Mexicans to join us.”
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.
Gov. Martinez again vetoes money meant for Gallup Detox Center
For the third time in four years, New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez has vetoed money meant specifically to help keep the doors of the Gallup Detox Center – McKinley County’s only detox and shelter program – open and helping the area’s people with alcoholism and substance abuse issues.
Read KOB.com’s special report on the Gallup Detox Center and the cyclical money problem it faces.
Monday, Gov. Martinez announced she had signed the $6.2 billion budget passed by the state legislature. She line-item vetoed many portions of the budget, but one of those vetoes was $200,000 put specifically into the budget for the Gallup Detox Center, also known as the Na’Nizhoozhi Center, Inc. (NCI). Continue reading
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