Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of Marijuana at Cornell Parking Structure
On the early morning of Jan. 29, an officer was on patrol at the Cornell Parking Structure when he noticed a red vehicle on the rooftop, parked alone with the engine on, according to a report. The officer approached the driver’s side to conduct a welfare check of the vehicle’s occupants when he saw the driver holding marijuana in his hand. An 18-inch glass water pipe was also in plain view on the center console. Two juveniles were in the vehicle with the driver.
The driver admitted to be smoking marijuana and to be in possession of multiple marijuana pipes within the vehicle as well as a loaded Glock handgun in the glove compartment. The subject was placed under arrest for possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana. The drug paraphernalia and the marijuana (which was weighed at approximately two ounces) were tagged into evidence.
The gun was tagged as safekeeping. The two juveniles’ parents were notified, and an officer drove them home and released them to the custody of their parents. The driver was later released after being issued misdemeanor citations.
Aggravated Battery on a Police Officer at Student Housing
On the morning of Jan. 29, a UNMPD officer was dispatched to 2700 Campus NE in reference to a disturbance, according to a report. Multiple calls to UNM Dispatch reported a male subject walking through the area and yelling. Upon arrival, the officer searched for the subject when a shouting male voice was heard through the police car’s windows.
The officer stopped and noticed a subject in the rearview mirror, yelling at the officer and asking why the officer was looking for him. The officer exited the police car and saw the subject appeared winded from running. The male was speaking nonsense and repeating everything the officer said. The officer felt the individual appeared to be under the influence of drugs and asked the subject if this was true — the subject denied this. However, due to the subject’s state, Albuquerque Fire Dept. Rescue was requested.
The subject gave his name and date of birth. The officer searched MVD and NCIC records; the subject had a New Mexico driver’s license and no outstanding warrants. After his compliance, the subject stated that he was going to urinate on himself, which he did.
Another officer arrived, and the first officer on scene gave her information about the entire incident. When she stepped roughly 25 yards away to signal responding rescue, the male subject said, pointing, “I need to see her.” The first officer informed him that he needed to remain where he was, but he repeated the statement and began running toward her. The first officer ran after the subject and yelled, informing the other officer.
When the second officer turned, the subject punched her in the forehead, and the two fell to the ground. The subject continued to punch her. The first officer drew a Taser and as the subject turned, he was ordered to get to the ground. The subject failed to comply and was tased in the chest, causing him to fall to the ground, his forehead hitting the pavement. He was ordered to remain on the ground when the charge stopped after a full five seconds.
The second officer was regaining her feet when the male stood up once more. He was ordered to remain on the ground and was met with another five-second Taser charge when he failed to comply. The male turned when asked to put his hands behind his back. After confirming the second officer could cover the first (as she was holding her Taser), the first officer handcuffed the subject and sat him on the steps near La Posada. The second officer was bleeding from her forehead. She was later transported to UNMH for treatment of her four-inch-long laceration.
When AFD Rescue arrived and questioned the male, an individual left La Posada, and the male began standing and yelling at the person. AFD personnel sat him down and restrained him.
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The subject was transported to UNMH. The first officer remained with the subject in the ambulance as well as throughout treatment. The subject admitted to taking “mushrooms.” He was treated and released. He was transported and booked on Aggravated Battery on a Police Officer.
Battery at UNM Mental Health Hospital
On Jan. 22, an officer was sent to the east wing of UNM Mental Health Hospital, in reference to a patient throwing another patient onto the floor, according to a UNMPD report. When the officer arrived, a UNM security guard said the Crisis Team and security were called to the east wing earlier, due to a rowdy female patient. The Crisis Team and security were clearing the area around her when another patient walked in front of her while she was sitting on a bench, whereupon the disruptive patient stood and threw the other patient onto the floor. Several staff members removed the aggressive patient from the other and restrained her by taking her to a separate room and using medications and physical restraints. Due to her condition, she could not make a statement.
The patient who had been thrown to the floor was taken to the ER for evaluation and treatment after she complained of the head injury. This patient told the officer that although it happened quickly and she was not entirely sure what happened, she was merely walking down the hall when the other female with long dark hair grabbed her under her arms, threw her to the floor and beat her body. She said she did not know the female or speak with her before the incident. She said her left knee, her right underarm and back of head were in pain. The officer was unable to note visible injuries; none were apparent on her neck in particular.
In his report, the security guard said he watched the unruly patient jump up, grab the other female by the neck and tackle her to the floor. The UNMPD officer watched a video and noted the same situation. Staff response was immediate, as they separated the two quickly. The woman who was attacked did not speak to the other individual, who did not appear provoked.
The woman who was attacked said she would like to press charges against the other patient. A criminal summons will be issued. The case is closed and cleared by summons.
Battery Against a Household Member at Casas Del Rio
On Jan. 23, a police officer was dispatched to the Casas Del Rio front desk, because a student wished to speak with an officer after his mother unexpectedly came to the UNM campus, according to a UNMPD report. A male student resident said he was called to the front office, because his mother was present and would like to see him. Because he had not had contact with his mother since 2012, his stepmother was on the lease, he said. The student said he told his mother he would like her to leave; when she refused, he told her he would call the police.
He said his mother and her girlfriend stopped him near Johnson Center, saying they needed to speak with him. He said he did not wish to speak with her; when he tried to step past her, she stepped in front of him and pushed him. Due to lack of contact between the two, the student said he was not sure how she knew he was attending and living at UNM. When the writer asked whether the incident was at Johnson Gym or Field, the student said it was at the Casas Del Rio gym.
The student said he was not sure who may have told her he was attending UNM and felt it was assumed. However, when he found her Facebook page, he noticed she had been posting high-school-aged photos of him. He said he blocked her on Facebook and therefore, has had no contact with her. However, he said his mother sent him a message on Facebook on his birthday, stating she would like to speak with him, because his grandmother was dying. Although they were sending text messages to one another, he told her he would not like contact with her.
He said he was no longer contacting her, because she had been physically abusing him. But because she had friends at APD, the issue was not legally addressed, he said. He was not injured and said the incident occurred on surveillance camera, all inside the Casas Del Rio gym. The report writer watched the video that was recorded during the time of the incident and did not see the student being battered or confronted; he was talking on his cell phone and walking in and out, and he is not seen speaking with anyone in the gym. There are several individuals in the gym during the timeframe, and none notified the front desk of a woman battering a student within their view. The writer advised the student that all video was reviewed and there was no incident on camera of his mother pushing him. The student changed his account, saying it took place outside of the gym.
The writer contacted the student’s mother, who said she visited campus to say hello to her son and said she did not touch or hit him. She said her girlfriend was with her at the time, and on-campus “witnesses” could say she did not touch him. She could not determine why he would claim she struck him. She was advised to stay away from the UNM campus and away from her son, as he was going to file a restraining order against her.
A copy of the police report will be sent to the Dean of Students, asking that this student’s mother be banned from campus, and a summons will be issued for her to answer the charges of battery against her. The case is closed and has been cleared.
-Compiled by Elizabeth Sanchez
