After more than a year, the city’s Civilian Police Oversight Advisory Board met Feb. 8 to get organized on how to go about clearing a backlog of more than 82 civilian complaints against the Albuquerque Police Department. This was their first meeting in more than a year after city councilors did a major revamp of […]
Courts, Justice & Safety
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, rio-rancho
Rio Rancho Police catch cell phone thief
On January 25, Rio Rancho Police responded to the Cricket Wireless store located at 1109 Highway 528 SE in response to a call for an armed robbery. The male suspect, who was wearing all black clothes and a black gator mask, brandished a gun and demanded the clerk give him cell phones. Cricket employees told […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Courts, Justice & Safety
Lieutenant under DWI unit investigation resigns from APD
The highest ranking officer being investigated as part of a corruption probe into the Albuquerque Police Department’s DWI unit has resigned. Lt. Justin Hunt resigned on Wednesday, Gilbert Gallegos, an APD spokesman, confirmed. “I can’t comment further except to say the administrative investigation is on-going,” Gallegos wrote in an email. The FBI is investigating four […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Courts, Justice & Safety
APD officer arrested on domestic violence charges
An Albuquerque Police Police officer was arrested on domestic violence charges stemming from an argument he had with his girlfriend. On Feb. 4, Rio Rancho Police responded to a call about a domestic dispute at a house on the 500 block of Archibeque Ave. in Rio Rancho. The caller said her boyfriend, 24 year-old Isaiah […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Courts, Justice & Safety
DA launches new system to notify law enforcement of missed court dates
The Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office has launched a new system to notify law enforcement agencies when an officer misses a hearing or a pre-trial interview. Joshua Boone, the chief deputy district attorney, said in an interview on Tuesday that the DA’s Office started working on the system—essentially a Google spreadsheet that is populated when […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Courts, Justice & Safety
DA blasts APD for ‘dysfunction and mismanagement’ of DWI unit
As the Albuquerque Police Department grapples with a corruption investigation into its DWI unit—and what could have been done to catch misconduct earlier—the Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office is stridently refuting it has any share of the blame. In a 15-page letter to the City Council detailing various policies and processes for court appearances, Chief […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Courts, Justice & Safety
The week in crime
In the past week, the Albuquerque Police Department has responded to a fatal stabbing, discovered a man and a woman dead inside a home during a welfare check and shot at a man who—it later turned out—shot himself during the encounter. APD officers also charged six suspects they say are involved in a 2021 homicide. […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Courts, Justice & Safety
At risk kids get new kicks
Choking back tears and covering his face to hide emotion, a student at West Mesa High School was thrilled to be getting a new pair of shoes Friday evening. Just after 5 p.m., a handful of students and adults gathered in the school’s library. They were greeted with stacks of new shoes of all sizes […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Courts, Justice & Safety
“What we know and don’t know about the APD corruption investigation”: City Desk’s Elise Kaplan joins NM In Focus
NMPBS’ New Mexico In Focus looks at the state of the APD corruption scandal in this week’s episode airing on NMPBS Friday at 7:00pm and again Sunday morning at 7:00am on channel 5.1. Watch the episode online courtesy of NMPBS. In this episode, taped Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, Executive Producer Jeff Proctor asks reporters Elise […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Courts, Justice & Safety
Father of co-defendant of Solomon Peña pleads guilty to interfering in electoral process
The second of three defendants facing federal charges for his part in a series of shootings targeting the homes of local lawmakers last year pleaded guilty Friday afternoon to conspiracy, interfering with federally protected activities, and using a firearm during those crimes. Demetrio Trujillo, 42, pleaded guilty to conspiracy, two counts of interference with federally […]