Law and Order: Socorro Sheriff's Department Blotter

MAN FIRES SHOT AT DOG

On July 9, in the area of Highway 304, deputies were dispatched to a call of shots fired. Dispatch was informed a male shot at a dog and then pointed a gun at someone in the area. When deputies arrived in the area, they contacted a male pushing a bike north of the address. The male was identified as Robert Ware, age 69, of Vegiuta. Ware told the Sheriff that he was traveling north on Highway 304 when he was chased by a brown dog and fired one round from his Luger 9mm pistol, and that the pistol was in his bag. After being read his rights, Ware was asked if he had pointed the gun at anyone, to which he said “no.” Deputies met with the victim and a witness, who both said they witnessed Ware point a gun at the victim. Ware was arrested on one charge of aggravated assault and one count of negligent use of a deadly weapon (knowingly). He was transported to Socorro General Hospital, where he was cleared by medical and then booked at SCDC.

MAN FOUND DECEASED

On July 14, in Veguita a dispatcher was advised by a worker at the Veguita Post Office who called in requesting a welfare check on a customer they had not seen since June 6. When the deputy went to the residence, he observed a skeletal body lying next to a trailer. The deputy was able to locate a wallet in the pants pocket of pants that were hanging up in a shed next to the trailer, and confirmed it was the man who had a welfare check requested for him. The deputy called OMI, and OMI arrived, pronounced the time of death and had the bones removed by Romero Funeral home. OMI advised that they would check on the next of kin notification. No other information is known at this time.

STOLEN VEHICLE RECOVERED

On July 8, a deputy was contacted by dispatch and asked to meet with the seller of a vehicle that was reported stolen and was listed for sale on Facebook. The deputy contacted the seller in Lemitar. The seller said he had several vehicles for sale, and the deputy explained that one of the vehicles was allegedly stolen out of Albuquerque. The seller allowed the deputy to view the documents and had a bill of sale for a green homemade kit car. The VIN did not match the VIN on the victim’s title, but the victim said that the vehicle also had an NM assigned number fixed to the driver’s side. The deputy located the assigned number and ran it through NCIC, which returned a result indicating the vehicle was stolen. The seller said he had purchased the vehicle from a male in Albuquerque in June and did not want the victim to have to pay a tow bill, so he allowed the victim on his property to pick up the vehicle.

VEHICLE TOWED FOR NO LICENSE/REGISTRATION

On July 11, Romero Piasso, 23, of Socorro, was pulled over on a suspended registration. Piasso said he knew his registration was suspended and that he did not have insurance on the vehicle and had been pulled over for the same offense two weeks earlier. The deputy said to Piasso that his vehicle was going to be towed for the infractions. Romero was issued two citations for the vehicle needing registration and for having no insurance.

REPORT FILED FOR MAN POSSIBLY MOVING ARROYO DIRT

On July 13, on Bosquecito Road in Socorro, a deputy was advised by the Sheriff that a male needed to make a report in reference to someone possibly moving arroyo dirt on the road without a permit. The deputy was unable to make contact with the accused and advised the complainant that the county would be checking the ditch arroyo, possibly between Monday and Friday, to look for damage.

BATTERIES STOLEN FROM STATE OF NEW MEXICO VEHICLES

On July 14, a deputy was dispatched to Highway 1 in reference to batteries being stolen from three State of New Mexico vehicles. Upon arrival, he met with the supervisor, who said he arrived at work that morning, he noticed batteries missing from one of the vehicles. The supervisor then inspected the area and noticed two other vehicles with batteries missing. The supervisor went to review camera footage but was unable to locate anyone on the property during the weekend. The supervisor also walked the property fence line and found a cut fence. The deputy observed the area and was unable to find any shoe impressions due to the rain overnight. The supervisor stated the surveillance cameras were only in the front of the complex and not the rear, so surveillance footage was not available of the batteries being stolen. The supervisor stated the batteries must have been stolen sometime between July 10 and July 14 when he arrived back at work. There are no suspects or witnesses at this time.

SHOPLIFTING AT DOLLAR GENERAL

On July 19, a deputy was dispatched to the Dollar General located at NM Highway 304 in Veguita in reference to shoplifting. Dispatch was advised the reporting party stated 3-4 people loaded backpacks with stolen merchandise and walked out. They got into a small silver Volkswagen and headed northbound. The license plate did not match the vehicle. The deputy made contact with the reporting party and the store manager. The store manager said that two males and one female came into the store and shoplifted. One male walked out with a backpack still with the tag attached. When the theft security alert went off at the door, the store manager approached one of the males and asked if he could check the backpack because the alarm went off, and they had not purchased anything. The male said no, and the three left in the Volkswagen with an unknown driver. The store manager said that he did not have footage of them taking the items, but was going to work on finding better footage and provide the deputy with a video and a receipt of the taken items. The backpack was valued at $12.50; no footage was obtained that shows the suspects' faces or of them collecting any items from inside the store. There is no further information at this time.

PROBATION VIOLATION

On July 21, a deputy was working courtroom security at the 7th Judicial District House in courtroom #1. The deputy was instructed by a District Judge to take Joshua Sisneros, 32 of Socorro, into custody as he had violated his probation. The deputy took Sisneros into custody and escorted him to the Socorro County Sheriff’s Office. Sisnero’s was taken to Socorro General Hospital for medical clearance. After he was cleared, he was booked at SCDC without incident.

TRAILER DAMAGED

On July 28, two deputies contacted a reporting party in reference to his trailer being damaged near Riley, NM. Upon meeting with the reporting party on Forest Road 354, the reporting party said they had bought property from a neighbor on Forest Road 354. There was a handshake agreement between the reporting party and the neighbor allowing the neighbor to use the road through their property to access land he owned west of their property. The reporting party said last night, he had parked a large green trailer on the road to block access through his property and locked the gate, which only the neighbor had the passcode to access. The reporting party went to his property at around 6 a.m. the next day to find the trailer had been hit and pushed off the road, and the gate lock was open. Deputies met with the neighbor in Magdalena to speak to him. The neighbor said he had gone through the road this morning, but did not hit the trailer. The neighbor said to the deputies that he had passed several hunters in the area who had been complaining that their access was limited due to the trailer in the road. Deputies looked over the neighbor’s vehicle and did not notice any damage to the front end of his vehicle. There is no further information at this time.

POSSIBLE ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING

A deputy was dispatched to a gunshot victim at Polvadera Street in Socorro on July 27. Upon the deputy's arrival, they met with a female who was identified as the victim’s sister.She said he had been taken to the hospital and that her brother had been shot inside her dad’s house; she also said her father was alone in the home. Upon entering the home, officers cleared it. There was another female in the home; she and the sister were asked to exit the home. Deputies looked in the laundry room and saw blood as well as a pistol between the washer and dryer. The deputy was unsure whether the firearm had been used or not. An officer of NMSP was advised of what they had found. Deputies met with the NMSP officer at the hospital to ask the victim who had shot him. The man said it was an accident but would not say who the shooter was. The wound was also not self-inflicted; there is no further information at this time.

INVALID LICENSE

On July 30, Ted Armijo,63, of San Antonio, was subject to a traffic stop by deputies after they saw that his driver's license was invalid/revoked. Deputies noticed the driver matched the description of the registered owner. Armijo admitted he did not have a driver’s license and identified himself with his name and date of birth. Armijo was arrested and gave permission for his keys to the manager of the John Brooks, where they were stopped. Armijo contacted his brothers to pick up the vehicle at a later time. Armijo refused to be seen by medical, and after paperwork was filled out at the Socorro County Sheriff’s office, he was transported to the Socorro County Detention Center, where he was booked and incarcerated without incident.

DRUGS FOUND ON INMATE

On June 18, a deputy was requested by a detective to pick up narcotics that were found on an inmate at the Socorro County Detention Center. Upon his arrival, he spoke with an officer who said he was doing a shakedown on Isaiah Baca, 29, of Lemitar. A deputy said that he located a green plastic baggie containing an unknown substance in the roof, and was walking back to the administration room when Baca asked if he could be moved back to his cell, to which Valenzuela said, “Not after a dirty scan.” The narcotics were placed in evidence by the deputy, and the detective sent the narcotics to the lab for testing. There is no further information at this time.