Socorro Sheriff's Department Blotter 

UNRESPONSIVE MALE

On Dec. 2, 2025, sheriffs responded to an unresponsive male in Veguita. According to the report, upon arrival, the Sheriff met with Socorro EMS, who said they had pulled the male out from the inside of an RV. The report states the reporting party said he came to check on his nephew, who was not feeling good, and that he was diabetic and did not take his medication properly. OMI arrived and took a report for time of death, and no signs of foul play or further information were available at the time. 

THEFT

On Dec. 2, 2025, the sheriff was dispatched to Highway 1, mile marker 60, in Socorro, regarding a reference to larceny of batteries. According to the report, upon arrival, a New Mexico Department of Transportation (DOT) officer reported someone had cut the negative cable on a bulldozer and stolen two batteries from the DOT yard. The DOT officer advised he noticed the batteries were missing on Dec. 1 and had not reported them then because they were supposed to be replaced by a mechanic back in November. The DOT officer stated the cost to replace the batteries would be around $700. The DOT officer was unable to tell who or why anyone would have stolen the batteries and the sheriff was unable to locate any witnesses or suspects at the time of the report.

DRIVER HITS ORYX

On Dec. 11, 2025, a deputy was dispatched to mile marker 45 on US Highway 380 in reference to a vehicle crash. According to the report, the driver said he was driving eastbound on US Highway 380, and as he was driving, an oryx came out of nowhere. He attempted to stop and was unable to stop in time, causing him to strike the oryx. The deputy states that he noticed major damage to the front end of the bumper, and all airbags were deployed. The driver complained that his chest was hurting due to the air bag deployment. The driver was transported to Socorro General by ambulance to be checked on. The report states that the deputy checked evidence on the roadway and believes that the driver was not at fault and the oryx caused an unavoidable traffic obstruction. There is no further information at this time. 

DRIVER HITS COYOTE/DOG

On Dec. 11, 2025, deputies were dispatched to the area of Newberry in reference to a vehicle crash that occurred on I-25 at mile marker 139. According to the report, the deputy, upon arrival, was told by the driver that she was driving northbound on I-25 near San Antonio when she noticed there was a dog or coyote in the median. The driver told the deputy as she got closer, the dog ran into the road as she passed, and she was unable to slow down in time and struck the dog with the front end of the vehicle, causing moderate damage. The deputy states that the driver was not at fault, and the dog created an unavoidable traffic obstruction. There is no further information at this time. 

TWO-VEHICLE ACCIDENT

On Dec. 16, 2025, deputies were dispatched to 1-25 near mile marker 165 in reference to a two-vehicle crash with no injuries. According to the report, the dispatcher was advised that a passenger vehicle had sideswiped a tow truck. The driver who hit the truck stated that she was traveling in the right lane and noticed another vehicle ahead that was pulled off the side of the road. She stated she began to switch lanes to the left lane and did not look in the mirror prior to changing lanes to see if another vehicle was there. The driver of the tow truck stated he was traveling in the left lane when the driver of the car began to enter his lane, hitting the passenger side-step rail on the tow truck. Both subjects reported they were okay and did not need an ambulance; both vehicles were functional and able to drive away and did not need to be towed. The reports state there was nothing else to report. 

VEHICLE CRASH

On Dec. 17, 2025, officers were dispatched to I-25 mile marker 140 regarding a vehicle crash. According to the report, the deputy made contact with the driver, who said she was entering the interstate from the on-ramp from San Antonio, and there was a vehicle in the fast lane of the highway with two semis behind it. The driver stated that the semi did not move over in time and hit the driver's side mirror with the trailer, causing minor damage. The report states the deputy was unable to find a semi matching the description given. The deputy stated they believe, based on the description, that the driver of the semi created an unavoidable traffic obstruction for the driver, and no enforcement action was taken. There was no further information to report.

VEHICLE ACCIDENT

On Dec. 19, 2025, a sheriff deputy was dispatched to an accident off US 60 West near mile marker 130. According to the report, the deputy found the driver of the vehicle around mile marker 132 walking westbound on US 60. Deputies state they talked to the driver, and she stated she had left her vehicle and was walking to find service. The deputy placed the driver in their patrol unit and drove them to her vehicle. The driver told the deputy that she was coming down the hill, going into town, when she struck an elk on the roadway. The driver reported she slowed down as much as she could but was unable to miss the elk in the road. The report states that deputies went to the point of impact and found the elk on the side of the road. The driver said after striking the elk, she drove the vehicle another mile looking for service, and the vehicle stopped functioning. There was no other information at the time of the report. 

DRIVER UNDER THE INFLUENCE 

On Dec. 20, 2025, a deputy was dispatched to Highway 1 at mile marker 153 for a single vehicle crash with no injuries. According to the report, the deputy said the driver was driving north on Highway 1 when they left the roadway for an unknown reason, struck a no-passing sign, and then crashed into the culvert. The report states that when interviewed by deputies, the woman stated she was driving north and went off the road and crashed. She also stated that she had been drinking vodka for the past 22 days and was highly intoxicated. The driver was transported to Socorro General Hospital by Socorro Fire/EMS. The vehicle had heavy front-end damage and was towed from the scene. The no passing sign was damaged, and NMDOT was notified of the damaged sign. The report states that an arrest warrant will be sought for DWI and being unable to maintain lanes upon the results of a blood draw. Further information is not available at this time. 

DOG ATTACK

On Dec. 21, 2025, the sheriff was called regarding a vicious dog in Veguita. According to the report, the reporting party stated he was attacked by a dog while he was walking on NM Highway 304 near mile marker 11. The reporting party said he noticed a dog run out of a house and it attacked him. He used his bicycle as a barrier between him and the dog. He hit the dog on the top of the head with a stick, and the dog retreated. The reporting party did not sustain any injuries during the incident. The dog was described as a white pit bull with brown spots. The reporting party stated that he knew who the dog belonged to, as the same dog had attacked him a total of four times. The sheriff stated he will be attempting to locate the dog owner and issue a citation for a dog at large. The report states that an animal control officer was also notified of the incident for follow-up. 

ATTEMPTED TRAFFIC STOP

On Dec. 22, 2025, in the area of Highway 1 in the San Lopez/San Antonio area, a State Police Officer attempted a traffic stop, and the vehicle they attempted to stop continued South on Highway 1. According to the report, the sheriff’s department was able to get an address of the driver and proceed to the address in San Marcial. Upon arrival they located the vehicle that had fled the traffic stop and the driver, who was identified. The sheriff asked why he ran from the NMSP officers, and he stated that they were attempting an illegal traffic stop, so he drove off. The sheriff decided to detain the driver. As he walked towards him, he attempted to run back to his truck. The sheriff stated that after a short time, the man turned around, and they were able to detain him without incident. Sheriff’s waited for the NMSP officer, and once they arrived, the man was placed into the police vehicle, and the NMSP had the vehicle towed from the property.