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You are here: News Public Safety Weekly police activity report Dec. 22, 2017

Weekly police activity report Dec. 22, 2017

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McKinley County Sheriff’s Office Dep. Johnson Lee was dispatched to the Alonzo Court area in Thoreau on Dec. 17 after reports that a group of people were yelling out plans to burn down a house in the trailer park. The report came in at about 1:48 am. Lee spoke to a resident of the park at the scene, who pointed him to a nearby trailer as the source of the noise.

Lee approached and entered the trailer. When he opened the door, he encountered a man, 50, with a swollen bloody face, who claimed to have been “jumped” two hours prior by two younger men. The suspects also stole $20 off of the victim, according to the police report. The victim could not identify for police who it was that had injured him. He was taken to the hospital.

Lee followed a set of footprints leading from the trailer to a fence, but did not locate the suspects, who are wanted for battery and robbery.

Lee investigated another theft in Thoreau on Dec. 15, this time near Country Road. Lee received a call from someone who returned to a house they were watching over to find its belongings thrown all over the floor and important items missing. Two flat screen TVs were broken, as were two windows. The homeowner, 39, was out of town, and spoke to Lee on the phone. He asked Lee to check on his gun, a Remington AR15, but it had been stolen along with its case, which contained $1,800 in cash.

The man watching the house stated that he had last checked on it on Dec. 15 at 5:30 pm, and reported the burglary at roughly 9:15 pm, so the crime must have occurred within that time. Police have no suspects or clues at this time.

MCSO Sgt. Elreno Henio was dispatched to Hassler Valley Road over reports of gunshots fired from a moving car on Dec. 13. The incident was reported at about 5 pm. Henio, having arrived at the scene, encountered the witness, 25, who said he was going for a run along the roadside when he saw a crimson SUV style vehicle with two teenage drivers wave as they rode past him. The car slowed down about 50-100 yards away, and then the witness heard five loud “pops” come from the car. He initially thought the car had just backfired, but after continuing his jog and arriving at where the car had just driven, he found shell casings on the ground, according to the police report. Though it was an unnerving incident, no one was injured from the shots fired.

There was drama down at the courthouse after a judge found a public defender in contempt of court. Lead public defender Steve Seeger then approached another judge and demanded information about when the defender would be released. When she replied that that action was up to the court, Seeger turned to leave and allegedly said repeatedly that “there is going to be hell to pay,” according to the report.

On Dec. 12, at about 9 am, the judge called the MCSO requesting that the comment Seeger made be filed as a formal threat against her. She was concerned about Seeger, and has plans to meet with the other judge involved and the State Public Defenders office to sort out ongoing issues.

A vehicle theft occurred in Tse Bonito on Alma Drive. MCSO Dep. Joseph P. Guillen spoke with the victim, 75, who said her 2015 black GMC Yukon was parked in front of Silver Creek Mortuary, and was stolen some time between Dec. 8 and the morning of Dec. 11.

Guillen collected the information from the victim about the car and then set off to find the missing vehicle – and the people who took it. At around 5:30 that evening, Metro reported the car near 2nd Street and Wilson Avenue. Guillen caught up to the car and, which had traveled and parked east of Maloney, according to the police report. Guillen approached the vehicle and encountered driver Derek Tom, 33, and passenger Gerard John, 23 inside.

Guillen handcuffed and detained the two suspects. Guillen also found beer cans and a marijuana pipe in the car, which he photographed for evidence and destroyed. John was charged with receiving or transferring stolen property, and a municipal bench warrant and a magistrate warrant. After a long day, the vehicle was returned to the victim at 7:41 pm.