KRQE News Briefs for Thursday, October 2, 2014
Rio Rancho threat suspect in custody
RIO RANCHO, N.M. (KRQE) – Rio Rancho police have arrested a man they believe pulled out an assault rifle in the parking lot of a Walmart and then threatened customers. Jaycee Yazzie, 21, is charged with assault and kidnapping for the September 20th incident.
Witnesses say Yazzie was threatening customers at the Walmart near Unser and Southern with an AK 4 then demanded that someone call police or he would start shooting.
Yazzie left before police arrived. They caught up with him Tuesday after figuring out who he was.
Man charged with child abuse after slapping 1-year-old
ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) – A man accused of slapping a toddler in the face and trying to cover it up is behind bars. According to a criminal complaint 24-year-old Javier Salas was watching his girlfriend’s 1-year-old daughter.
Salas claims while he was in another room when a scooter in the kitchen had fallen on the child, bruising her eye. When the child’s grandmother came to pick up the baby she noticed the mark and later called police.
When Salas questioned, investigators say Salas changed his story several times. Police later determined that Salas hit the girl. Salas is charged with child abuse
Suspect who shot at Farmington police sought
FARMINGTON, N.M. (KRQE) – Farmington police are still looking for the person who shot at them earlier this week. Police responded to an alarm on the 4,000 block of East Main Street Monday morning.
Once officers were inside, someone fired one shots at them. No one was hit. Police released surveillance images of a possible suspect but that man was questioned and ruled out as a suspect.
If you have any information about the shooting call Farmington police.
Ceremonial artifacts returned to Hopi tribe
ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) – Hopi officials say four ceremonial items taken years ago are now back with the tribe. It’s thanks to a combined effort by the Bureau of Land Management, DOJ and the Hopi tribe.
Under the protection act collecting artifacts from public or tribal lands without a permit is a federal crime which officials say happened in this case. Those items are not meant to be seen by non-natives, so officials aren’t sharing pictures of them out of respect for the tribe.
Precautionary water advisory lifted for Eddy County
EDDY COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) – Following severe flooding in Eddy County, residents in the SKP RV Park were asked to use alternate sources of water such as bottled water until wells were tested for floodwater contamination. That advisory has now been lifted.
New Mexico Environment Department officials said the water is safe for consumption. The NMED will continue monitoring the water systems as needed.
Petroglyph park trail re-opens following floods, vandalism
ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) – A popular national monument in Albuquerque has re-opened after flooding and vandals forced it to close.
The Rinconada Canyon Trail in the Petroglyph National Park opened at 10 a.m. Thursday.
Storms destroyed a lot of the trail last year. Then just last month when it was about to re-open, it was vandalized.
Nearly 20 posts and 600 feet of cable were destroyed. Plus, ladders to make it easier to walk through the sand were ruined.
The search for the vandals continues.
Controlled burn near Angel Fire begins Thursday
ANGEL FIRE, N.M. (KRQE) – Cooler and wetter conditions are allowing for a controlled burn near Angel Fire earlier that expected.
The burn starts Thursday is expected to create a lot of smoke and will be visible from Mora, Angel Fire, Taos, Eagle Nest, Raton and Cimarron.
The 900-acre project will target the upper Coyote Creek watershed.
The goal is to reduce the risk of large high intensity wildfires. The burn will likely last through Oct. 6.
Flooding closes areas in Gila Wilderness
SILVER CITY, N.M. (KRQE) – Severe flooding in the Gila Wilderness has closed the catwalk, recreation areas, trailheads and several roads.
Officials say the flash floods severely impacted N.M. Route 174 – known as Catwalk Road – making the recreation site inaccessible.
Flooding is also impacting campgrounds around Highway 152 gates near Kingston Cemetery and the forest
Boundary west of lower Gallinas Canyon are closed.
The Department of Transportation is working to repair the roads.
UNM students kick off pharmacist month
ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) – Dozens of student pharmacists gather on the Montano Bridge on Thursday morning in white coats to kick off American Pharmacist Month and promote the profession.
The students will also use the month to reach out to the community by providing health screenings and flu shots.
NM Albertsons not affected by hack
ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) – Albertsons officials say stores in New Mexico were not affected by the recent hacking.
The grocery chain has determined that its credit and debit card system was hacked sometime between August and September.
In a statement posted on the company’s website, stores in Arizona, northern Utah, Colorado and New Mexico were not affected.
ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) -
Few questions answered in Santa Fe shooting
SANTA FE (KRQE) – Police are still trying to figure out why a Santa Fe businessman was shot in his driveway and who did it.
Peter Komis told authorities Wednesday that three to four men got out of a white car and began to attack him in his driveway on Don Gaspar late Tuesday night. He was then shot twice in the back.
Komis, who owns property on the plaza, is recovering at Christus St. Vincent. Police are trying to figure out if Komis knew the man
$1 million in marijuana seized in Jemez Valley
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) – Authorities have seized more than $1 million worth of marijuana plants during a raid of a grow operation in the Jemez Valley.
The Albuquerque Journal reports the farming operation was composed of two large areas where hundreds of plants had grown to nearly 5 feet tall.
Sheriff’s deputies say more than 1,000 marijuana plants were found growing on public land in the national forest Wednesday.
Authorities believe up to a dozen people were involved in the operation but no arrests were immediately made. Sheriff’s officials say it was the largest seizure they’ve responded to in at least the last decade.
Judgeships becoming vacant in Gallup, Aztec
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) – Two district court judgeships in northwestern New Mexico are becoming vacant in January and an independent nominating commission will take applications from lawyers who want to be considered for the positions.
The terms of District Judges Grant Foutz in Gallup and William Birdsall in Aztec expire at the end of the year. Neither judge sought to be retained in the general election.
The nominating commission will meet Dec. 3 at the San Juan County courthouse in Aztec to interview applicants for Birdsall’s position. Applications are due by Nov. 19.
Commission members will meet Dec. 4 in Gallup at the McKinley County courthouse to decide on nominees for the judgeship held by Foutz. Applications must be submitted by Nov. 20.
