As news continues to unfold about the five officers suspected of working with a local defense attorney, Thomas Clear III, to get those accused of driving while intoxicated off the hook, many readers reached out with questions about what happens next. City Desk ABQ tracked down officials to get the answers. The five officers — […]
Category: Courts, Justice & Safety
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety
Tan Pants Bandit Strikes Again
On April 1, the Rio Grande Credit Union of Rio Rancho at 1526 Unser Blvd SE was robbed by a suspect that the FBI has nicknamed “The Tan Pants Bandit.” The suspect demanded money from a teller, who handed over an undisclosed amount. He is described as a white male, approximately 5 feet 7 inches […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety
Man Accused of Shooting, Killing Wife In Car With Children
A Ribera man is accused of fatally shooting his wife inside his vehicle with children in the back seat. This is the second homicide investigated by the Rio Rancho Police Department in just ten days. According to a criminal complaint, on the evening of April 3, RRPD arrived at Sandoval Regional Medical Center responding to […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, Housing & Homelessness
Biden admin will require thousands more gun dealers to run background checks on buyers
By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and COLLEEN LONG Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Thousands more firearms dealers across the United States will have to run background checks on buyers at gun shows or other places outside brick-and-mortar stores, according to a Biden administration rule that will soon go into effect. The rule aims to close a […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, Housing & Homelessness, Local Gov.
Former corrections officer shot himself outside MDC on Tuesday
The man who shot himself outside of the Metropolitan Detention Center on Tuesday was a former corrections officer, according to a county spokesperson. He was taken to the University of New Mexico Hospital, where he later died. Candace Hopkins, a spokesperson for the county jail, said the man worked for MDC “for several different stints […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, Housing & Homelessness
Suspect arrested in deadly fight outside homeless services provider
Albuquerque police have arrested a man suspected of severely beating another man during a fight in front of a homeless services provider Downtown in late February. The victim, Mark Lavine, died a couple weeks later. Jose Gracia, 54, was arrested Wednesday. He is charged with an open count of murder. Both he and Lavine were […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, Housing & Homelessness, Local Gov.
Man shoots, injures himself outside county jail
A man shot and injured himself outside the Metropolitan Detention Center Tuesday afternoon, according to a county spokesperson. He has been taken to the University of New Mexico Hospital. “No one else was injured or involved in the incident,” spokesperson Candace Hopkins wrote in a news release. “The Sheriff’s Office has secured the grounds and […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, Housing & Homelessness
A law to stem organized shoplifting has been in place 10 months. Is it working?
In early January, a security guard working at Marshalls in Northeast Albuquerque called an Albuquerque Police Department detective to report she had been working on a case against a “prolific shoplifter” for more than two months and there was a chance to arrest him.
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, Housing & Homelessness
2023’s most prolific felony shoplifting cases
This article is part of a three-part package on shoplifting. Read about what’s happening in the Southwest Area Command here and what’s happened since a law was passed to target organized retail crime here. Store: Albertsons Market, two locationsSuspects: Demetrius Antonnie Bailey, 41Dates: Feb. 13 to Sept. 19Number of incidents: 12Charges: Organized retail crime, one […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, Housing & Homelessness
Southwest Albuquerque command sees positive outcome in shoplifting reports from retailers
This article is part of a three-part package on shoplifting. Read about what’s happened since a law was passed to target organized retail crime here and about some of the most brazen thefts here. At a recent community policing meeting in Southwest Albuquerque, Cmdr. Rene Barraza told the gathered crowd that the department has noted […]