By JOHN SEEWER, REESE DUNKLIN and TAYLOR STEVENS / Associated Press In hundreds of deaths where police used force meant to stop someone without killing them, officers violated well-known guidelines for safely restraining and subduing people — not simply once or twice, but multiple times. Most violations involved pinning people facedown in ways that could […]
Courts, Justice & Safety
After nine years of court oversight, Albuquerque Police now in full compliance with reforms
ASSOCIATED PRESS The Albuquerque Police Department is now in full compliance with reforms ordered by the U.S. Department of Justice and that paves the way for the end of nine years of court oversight, authorities said Monday. The assessment came from an independent monitoring team hired by the city in 2015. The DOJ released findings […]
RRPD: Sushi Shoplifter Accused of Attempting to Steal Ambulance
A Colorado man is accused of attempting to steal an ambulance while EMS workers gave aid to a patient inside. According to a criminal complaint, around 6:36 p.m. April 28, Rio Rancho Police were dispatched to the Smith’s at 1000 N.M. 528 about the attempted theft of an ambulance. Officers arrived and detained 37-year-old Keith […]
‘There was no real security.’ Witness describes scene at convention center graduation shooting
A mother is recovering after being shot by her stepson during a graduation ceremony for Southwest Secondary Learning Center, at the Albuquerque Convention Center, on Wednesday, according to court documents. Cristian Joshua Bencomo, 21, was taken into custody directly following the incident and is charged with aggravated battery of a household member, use of a […]
Undercover operation nets arrests as New Mexico’s top prosecutor blames Meta for online predators
By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN / Associated Press New Mexico’s top prosecutor announced charges Wednesday against three men who are accused of using Meta’s social media platforms to target and solicit sex with underage children. The arrests are the result of a monthslong undercover operation in which the suspects connected with decoy accounts that were set […]
Woman shot, injured inside convention center
A woman was shot and seriously injured inside the Albuquerque Convention Center Wednesday evening while a gradutation ceremony was taking place. It was not immediately clear if the victim or suspect were involved in the graduation ceremony, which police say was for the Southwest Secondary Learning Center charter school. The suspect has been taken into […]
Another officer — the 9th — put on leave amidst internal investigation of DWI unit
The Albuquerque Police Department has expanded its internal investigation into corruption in the DWI unit to yet another officer — bringing the total to nine. Matthew Trahan was put on leave Wednesday, APD spokesperson Gilbert Gallegos confirmed. He said Trahan was hired in 2006 and served in the DWI unit from 2014 to 2016. Of […]
Civil suit settled in shooting at Oñate Protest
By MORGAN LEE / Associated Press A settlement has been reached in a civil lawsuit seeking damages from three relatives in the shooting of a Native American activist in northern New Mexico amid confrontations about a statue of a Spanish conquistador and aborted plans to reinstall it in public, according to court documents published Tuesday. […]
New Mexico high court upholds man’s 3 murder convictions in 2018 shooting deaths near Dixon
ASSOCIATED PRESS / SANTA FE, N.M. The New Mexico Supreme Court has upheld a man’s murder convictions in the 2018 shooting deaths of three people near the community of Dixon. In a unanimous decision, the state’s high court concluded Monday that there was sufficient evidence to support John Powell’s convictions of three counts of first-degree […]
FBI says an infant abducted from New Mexico park has been found safe; a suspect is in custody
ASSOCIATED PRESS CLOVIS, N.M. (AP) — An infant girl who was abducted from a park near Clovis, New Mexico, has been found safe, and a suspect is in in custody, the FBI in Albuquerque said Monday. Clovis police said 10-month-old Eleia Maria Torres has been taken to a Clovis-area hospital as a precautionary measure. No […]