By Robert Knott/ Santa Fe New Mexican A “tougher on crime” bill championed by the governor that supporters say would address the perception of violent criminals moving through a judicial revolving door went through something of a revolving door itself Monday. Members of the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committed voted 5-4 to table Senate […]
Courts, Justice & Safety
Posted inAlbuquerque, Courts, Justice & Safety, Housing & Homelessness
The week in crime
In the past week, the Albuquerque Police Department has responded to three crashes in the city, resulting in two pedestrian deaths. There was also an arrest made in a fatal stabbing, a drug-trafficking arrest, and two people were charged in a 2017 murder case. And APD officers shot and killed someone they said was threatening […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Courts, Justice & Safety
Inmate death on Sunday marks first for 2024
A 26-year-old man died in the county jail over the weekend. Officials say Pete Salazar had a medical emergency at the Metropolitan Detention Center Sunday morning. They said jail staff and the University of New Mexico Hospital medical team tried to save his life but after 24 minutes their efforts were unsuccessful. Salazar had been […]
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Texts show APD Chief, Mayor Keller discuss plan to “hammer the unhoused”
Amid growing public pressure to address homeless encampments across the city, Mayor Tim Keller invited Police Chief Harold Medina to help develop a two-month plan with “like five moves in two months on the chess baord (sic)” to respond to the growing crisis. “Yes let’s plan we hammer the unhoused but be prepared for the […]
Posted inBernalillo County, Courts, Justice & Safety, Local Gov.
Bernalillo County Sheriff’s deputy arrested after allegedly pointing gun at two people
Two Albuquerque residents were startled as they waited for a friend at a Circle K on Wednesday when—over the loud-speaker of a Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office truck—they were ordered to leave. “Get the fuck outta here,” they reported hearing. “Get the fuck outta here, or I’m going to take your fucking soul.” That’s what police […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Courts, Justice & Safety
Albuquerque serial killer pleads guilty to 1980’s cold cases
This report is the first of a two-part series by City Desk’s Elise Kaplan and Bethany Raja. To read more about the victims families find part two here. (c) City Desk ABQ. Republish our stories with permission from editor@abq.news After more than 30 years of waiting and agonizing for their children, the families of Stella […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Courts, Justice & Safety
A killer confesses: what happens to those left behind?
This report is the second of a two-part series by City Desk’s Elise Kaplan and Bethany Raja. To read more about the court hearing and Apodaca’s plea, find part one here. (c) City Desk ABQ. Republish our stories with permission from editor@abq.news One night in 1988, 13-year-old Stella Gonzales—a bubbly 5th grader at Washington Middle […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Courts, Justice & Safety
APD brings in civilian investigators to solve orphaned homicides
Help for several cold cases is on the horizon for the Albuquerque Police Department. In a press conference on Jan. 25, APD brass updated the department’s progress with orphaned and departed homicide cases due to bringing in civilian investigators and a new homicide digital library. “I think that we found a formula for going forward […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Courts, Justice & Safety
Four members of APD DWI unit added to DA’s list of untrustworthy officers
Four names were just added to the Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office list of officers who have credibility issues—colloquially referred to as a Giglio disclosure. They are Honorio Alba, Joshua Montano, Nelson Ortiz and Harvey Johnson and their names appear over and over as the arresting officers in the list of more than 150 DWI […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Courts, Justice & Safety
APD Chief addresses federal investigation into DWI officers
Five days after federal authorities searched the homes of Albuquerque Police Department officers and the office of a local defense attorney, department leadership provided additional details about the case and announced that it has launched an administrative investigation into the officers. None of the officers have been charged with a crime “at this point in […]