Lea County; On Tuesday, April 14, 2015, at approximately 6:00 p.m., Lea County Task Force Officers, went to the Rex Arms Apartment Complex, located in Hobbs, New Mexico, to serve a search warrant on a single apartment residence.
Two individuals occupied the apartment, one male and one female. As task force officers breached the door to the apartment, the male subject fired a rifle at task force members. Two (2) task force officers discharged their duty weapons back at the suspect.
The male and female then barricaded themselves in the apartment. Hobbs Police Department SWAT team was activated and the apartment complex was secured. At approximately 1:20 a.m., on April 15, 2015, the male and female surrendered and exited the apartment. Both suspects were taken into custody by the Hobbs Police Department. The suspects have been identified as:
Vrisela Machuca, Age 19, resident of Hobbs, NM.
Jonathan V. Soto, Age 25, resident of Hobbs, NM.
Agents from the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau have concluded their interviews with all involved officers. The officers who fired shots have been identified as:
John Barrinetes – Lea County Drug Task Force Agent, a 7 year veteran currently employed by the Lea County Sheriff’s Department.
Cathy Carnes – Lea County Drug Task Force Agent, an 8 year veteran currently employed by the Hobbs Police Department.
While processing the scene investigators recovered a .45 caliber Glock pistol and an AK-47 Century Arms rifle. It has been determined that Mr. Soto possessed these weapons during the incident. Multiple AK-47 casings were also located in the immediate area of the suspects’ firearms.
Mr. Soto has been arrested and charged with:
Aggravated Assault Upon a Peace Officer (6 Counts)
Felon in possession of a firearm
Possession of a controlled substance, Meth
Possession of a controlled substance, Cocaine
Possession of a Marijuana one ounce or less
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
The Lea County Task Force is comprised of officers from the Lea County Sheriff’s Department and Hobbs Police Department.
New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau is continuing to investigate the Officer Involved Shooting portion of this incident.
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Sergeant Chad Pierce
Cell: 505-629-9741
Office: 505-841-9228
Email: chad.pierce@state.nm.us