Socorro Sheriff blotter

THREATS- A resident of Socorro reported threats from a co-worker to the Sheriff’s department on April 23. According to reports, the victim conducted an audit that revealed $10,000 was missing and reported it to his employer. It is alleged Christian Lee Burton was responsible for the missing money and was fired by the employer. The victim told officers that Bruton threatened to kill them and their family. The victim and employer told officers they believed he was capable of acting on his threats.

FRAUD- Deputies spoke to a person in regards to a possible scam at 2:36 p.m. on May 6. According to reports, the victim told deputies that they were looking for a home for sale in Belen and reached out to a seller under the name Janet Sodomlak. They reportedly made a $550 dollar payment through Paypal and never received a call back from the seller. The victim said they called the county assessor’s office, and the residence was shown under a different name and they believe they were scammed.

BREAKING AND ENTERING- Zachery Owen, 19 was arrested with charges of breaking and entering at 8:21 p.m. on May 6. Deputies were advised of a breaking and entering in progress at Sheriff Lee Armijo’s father’s residence in Socorro. Upon arrival deputies identified and restrained Owen and cleared the residence. Deputies reported items were thrown on the floor, shelves left open and observed a damaged door and door frame. The victim stated that she arrived to the residence and saw a male, identified as Owen, come out of the back door from inside the house and called Sheriff Armijo. Owen reportedly followed her around the back of the house as she was attempting to go back to her vehicle and told her that he saw two other people enter the house and he entered the house to check on it. Owen was placed under arrest and booked to the Socorro County Detention Center.

BATTERY- Zacary Eugene Werder, 36, was arrested with charges of aggravated battery against a household member and interference with communications from an incident that was reported at 10:58 a.m. on May 9 in Veguita. According to reports, deputies responded to the report of a domestic in progress from a female caller and while en route were alerted that the suspect was on foot. The victim reported to officers that they had an argument followed by a physical altercation and officers observed evidence consistent with the claims. She told them she grabbed the phone and he slapped it out of her hand and said she believed the suspect left with a handgun. The victim was able to get a protection order and deputies obtained an arrest order for Werder. At 4 p.m. deputies were advised by dispatch that the suspect had returned to the property and was threatening to shoot deputies. Upon arrival deputies ordered Werder to exit the house after several minutes he complied and was arrested and read his Miranda rights.

LARCENY- Deputies responded to a call in reference to larcey in Veguita at 4 p.m. on May 8. A trailer from a work zone located approximately four miles north of Highway 60 was reported stolen. The reporting person told deputies that it was last seen May 6. Deputies observed drag marks on the ground where the trailer had been parked. The trailer was entered in the NCIC as stolen.

WATER DAMAGE- A Socorro resident reported that their property was being damaged by water overflow from their neighbor at 10:09 a.m. on May 8. According to reports, deputies observed damage around the horse corrals and advised the reporting party to report the overflow to the Rio Grande Conservancy.

PUBLIC CONCERN- Deputies responded to a call in reference to a person who was laying in the roadway on San Lorenzo Road and New Mexico Highway 304 in Veguita at 3:59 p.m. on May 12. Family members reported that the suspect had a severe drinking problem and was behaving inappropriately. Deputies noticed a male laying down on the ground near some mailboxes and made contact with him. Deputies observed that he was highly intoxicated and due to being unable to take care of himself, Larry Page, 71 of Veguita was arrested for public nuisance.