Courts, Justice & Safety

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 […]

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.  […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

When now-retired Albuquerque Police Department Detective Maureen O’Brien was called to a local hospital to investigate the death of a child five years ago, she was horrified at what she saw when she laid her eyes on the body of four-year-old James Dunklee Cruz.  “I knew this wasn’t an accident. He didn’t fall. I knew […]

The Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office is once again publishing its list of untrustworthy law enforcement officers online.  Last week, City Desk ABQ reported that with the change in administration the DA’s office was no longer publicly listing officers who need Giglio disclosures—anything that could cast doubt on their integrity as a witness. Four of […]

Months before FBI raids of APD cops and a local attorney, a court official alerted the police oversight agency about an offer to fix a DWI case

Since 2017, nearly every DWI case where Albuquerque Police Officer Honorio Alba made the arrest and Thomas Clear was the defense attorney ended up getting dismissed. A City Desk ABQ review of court records in the 29 cases revealed that only one case resulted in a defendant being sentenced. Over and over the cases were […]

On January 25, New Mexico State Police assisted with the execution of two search warrants at two Albuquerque-area cannabis dispensaries. After receiving information from the Cannabis Control Division, agents with the New Mexico Governor’s Organized Crime Commission requested assistance from the New Mexico State Police with executing search warrants at The Cannabis Revolution Dispensary (CRD) […]