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Public Safety

  • Drug takeback nets 332 pounds

    The Los Alamos Police Department conducted its bi-annual DEA prescription drug take-back initiative Saturday.

    And LAPD came up with quite a haul.

    "We conducted two location sites for the first time this year, one at LAMC and the second in White Rock at the public library. The total weight of collected drugs was 332 pounds,” Cmdr. Randy Foster said.
    “This is the most we have collected thus far and this continues to be a successful program with community support.”
    “I was approached by many seniors in White Rock that stated they were grateful for the second location site because it can sometimes be difficult for them to make arrangements to drive up to Los Alamos” Detective Sergeant Oliver Morris said.

    Manning the posts, were Sgt. Jeremy Duran, Cpl. Oliver McCartney, Ofc. Robert Girmendonk Sgt. Oliver Morris, Det. Daniel Roberts and Det. Paige Earley.

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  • Wind Advisory until 6 p.m. this evening

    THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ALBUQUERQUE HAS ISSUED A WIND ADVISORY... WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM THIS MORNING TO 6 PM MDT THIS EVENING.

    * LOCATION... NORTHWEST... AND MUCH OF WEST-CENTRAL AND NORTH CENTRAL NEW MEXICO TO INCLUDE THE FOUR CORNERS REGION... NORTHERN MOUNTAINS AND THE INTERSTATE 40 CORRIDOR BETWEEN THE ARIZONA STATE LINE AND CONTINENTAL DIVIDE.

    * WINDS... SUSTAINED FROM THE NORTHWEST AT 25 TO 35 MPH WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS TO 50 MPH.

    * TIMING... WINDS WILL STEADILY INCREASE THROUGH MID- MORNING... PEAKING IN STRENGTH BY MIDDAY INTO THE AFTERNOON AS A COLD FRONT SWEEPS THE REGION FROM NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST. WINDS WILL DIMINISH LATE IN THE DAY.

    * VISIBILITY... 3 TO 5 MILES IN DUST PRONE AREAS INCLUDING OPEN FIELDS AND ONGOING CONSTRUCTION SITES WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT. OF PARTICULAR CONCERN WILL BE AREAS BETWEEN GALLUP AND FARMINGTON... AND THE SAN JUAN BASIN WHERE VISIBILITIES MAY BE LOCALLY REDUCED TO 1 MILE OR LESS.

    * LOCAL IMPACTS... STRONG CROSS WINDS CAN BE EXPECTED ESPECIALLY ON NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST ORIENTED ROADS. AREAS OF BLOWING DUST WILL LIMIT VISIBILITY.

    PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

    MOTORISTS SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION WHILE TRAVELLING. SUDDEN GUSTS OF WIND MAY CAUSE YOU TO LOSE CONTROL OF YOUR VEHICLE. EXTRA ATTENTION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO CROSS WINDS.

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  • Police Beat 04-30-13

    Police Beat items are compiled from public information contained in Los Alamos Police Department Records. Charges or citations listed in Police Beat do not imply innocence or guilt. The Los Alamos Police Department uses the term “arrest” to define anyone who has been physically arrested, served a court summons, or issued a citation.

    April 18

    10:45 a.m. ­— An 18-year-old Los Alamos woman reported to police that someone had broken into her vehicle in the 100 block of Verde Ridge.

    11 a.m. — A 33-year-old Los Alamos man reported to police he was the victim of a larceny (over $500 less than $2,500) in the 3000 block of Ridgeway Drive.

    April 19

    7:54 p.m. — Gavin Cata, 19, of San Juan Pueblo was arrested for marijuana possession (less than 1 oz.) on N.M. 502.

    8:45 p.m. — Lloyd Gordon, 61, of Los Alamos was arrested on a magistrate court bench warrant in the 1800 block of Calle Mora.

    9:36 p.m.— A Los Alamos teen, 16, was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia on 35th Street.

    9:36 p.m. — A Los Alamos teen, 17, was arrested as a minor in possession of drugs on 35th Street.
    April 22

    9:34 p.m. — Amy Justice, 41, of Los Alamos was arrested for shoplifting at the Jemez House Thrift Shop, 13 Sherwood Boulevard.

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  • Shelter training

    The American Red Cross in New Mexico conducted a shelter training drill Friday at the Betty Ehart Senior Center. Members of the Los Alamos and Santa Fe Retired and Senior Volunteer Programs (RSVP) participated in the training. Volunteers learned Red Cross sheltering fundamentals which included registration, dormitory organization and logistics.
     

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  • Environment agency warns of N.M. dust storms

    SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Forecasters say New Mexico's parched landscape and cold front packing gusty winds could combine to create harmful dust storms.

    The National Weather Service says near-record warmth Tuesday will give way to blustery cold wind Wednesday in much of the state. Forecasters warn the winds are increasing the risk of wildfires in north and central New Mexico.

    The New Mexico Environment Department says winds sweeping along the middle and lower Rio Grande Valley Wednesday into Thursday could stir up dust as well.

    The agency says while dust storms may be common in the state, they can still cause or exacerbate health problems. The department suggests those prone to respiratory problems should avoid going outside or hard exercise.

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  • Sharp mid-week chill down on tap for region

    The National Weather Service has issued the following special weather statement:

    NEAR RECORD WARMTH TODAY DIVING TO A BLUSTERY COLD WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY ACROSS NEW MEXICO...

    A STORM SYSTEM AND STRONG COLD FRONT STRETCHING FROM CENTRAL NEVADA ACROSS UTAH AND COLORADO WILL ADVANCE STEADILY TOWARD NEW MEXICO... REACHING THE NORTHERN BORDER BY LATE TONIGHT. A TWO PRONGED SHOT OF COLDER AIR WILL SPILL FIRST OVER THE EAST DURING THE DAY ON WEDNESDAY... WITH A COLD SPILL INTO THE WEST BY WEDNESDAY NIGHT. MUCH COLDER AIR OVER NEW MEXICO WITH BLUSTERY WINDS WILL SET UP A CHILLY AND WINTER LIKE START TO THE MONTH OF MAY.

    DAYTIME TEMPERATURES FALLING FROM NEAR RECORD HIGHS TODAY WILL DIVE BELOW NORMAL FOR THE NORTH AND EAST ON WEDNESDAY... WITH THE SOUTH AND WEST REMAINING NEAR NORMAL. A MUCH COLDER STORY SETS UP FOR THURSDAY... WITH TEMPERATURES DIVING TO 20 TO 30 DEGREES BELOW EARLY MAY NORMALS OVER THE EAST... AND 10 TO 20 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL IN THE WEST.

    GUSTY WINDS WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY WILL RAISE CLOUDS OF BLOWING DUST OVER MUCH OF EASTERN NEW MEXICO... WITH WINDS PRODUCING BLOWING SNOW WEDNESDAY NIGHT OVER THE NORTHEAST PLAINS FROM THE INTERSTATE 25 CORRIDOR EAST TO THE OKLAHOMA AND TEXAS LINES. BLOWING SNOW WEDNESDAY NIGHT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL FROM WAGON MOUND TO THE COLORADO LINE ALONG INTERSTATE 25.

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  • Sheriff gets notable nomination from peers

    When he first took office in 2010, no one really expected Los Alamos County Sheriff Marco Lucero to actually, well you know, enforce laws. Some people in the county saw the job as an administrative position and hoped Lucero would see things their way.

    He did not.

    “I was the very first elected sheriff here who was also an actual, certified law enforcement officer,” Lucero said. “I came in with the premise that I was going to try and keep the community safe, and I continue to believe in that premise.”

    To make a long story short, he became involved in the investigation of a convicted sex offender, and some people on the County’s Charter Review Committee, according to him, didn’t think that should be his venue and tried to eliminate his office.

    “There are those who thought I shouldn’t be involved in law enforcement or making arrests of convicted sex offenders,” he said. “There was a long drawn out battle, and we ended up keeping the office of sheriff.”

    It was for this, as well as his founding of a website where concerned citizens could come and find out where local sex offenders are living in their neighborhood that the Western States Sheriffs Association, an organization that covers 16 states, nominated Lucero for its Sheriff of the Year Award.

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  • Police bust 15 juveniles at party

    Responding to a noise complaint, officers from the Los Alamos Police Department apprehended 15 teens having a party in the 300 block of Aragon Street, April 12.

    When Ofc. Benjamin Irving and Cpl. Sheldon Simpson first pulled up to the back of the house that Friday night around 10 p.m., two individuals, Zachary Martinez, 19 and Zakary Coker, 18 tried to run out the back when a group of other LAPD officers knocked on the front door. However, Irving and Simpson quickly apprehended the suspects.

    Eventually, Simpson entered the house to apprehend more suspects. While waiting outside the back, Irving observed another youth trying to escape out a back exit, jumping from the balcony above him. Simpson ordered the suspect to stop and he did. Simpson then placed him in handcuffs.

    Sgt. Monica Salazar, Cpl. Adam Jung and Cpl. Patrick Massara came in through the front of the house, rounding up several individuals who were hiding throughout the house. Police also noted they observed a strong odor of marijuana, open beer cans, cups containing alcohol and a refrigerator containing two 30-can packs of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer and a 12-pack of Coors Light.

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  • Police Beat 04-23-13

    Police Beat items are compiled from public information contained in Los Alamos Police Department Records. Charges or citations listed in Police Beat do not imply innocence or guilt. The Los Alamos Police Department uses the term “arrest” to define anyone who has been physically arrested, served a court summons, or issued a citation.
    April 12

    2:08 a.m. — Jennie Garcia, 34 of Los Alamos was charged with aggravated driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and driving outside lanes for traffic at 35th and Villa Street.

    10:45 a.m. — Charles Sterba, 54, of Los Alamos was arrested on a warrant from another jurisdiction.

    1:01 p.m. — A 54-year-old female told police she had been the victim of a larceny (less than $250) in the 1200 block of San Ildefonso Road.

    8:12 p.m. — Kevin Snider, 51, of Los Alamos was arrested on a charge of driving while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, driving outside lanes meant for traffic, driving with a suspended or revoked license and driving without insurance or registration at Club Road and Diamond Drive.

    10:47 p.m. — Moses Salazar, 27, of Los Alamos was arrested on a magistrate court bench warrant.
    April 13

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  • Hikers nearly start wildfire

    A hiker called police on the morning of April 8 to say his friend might be suffering from alcohol poisoning. The hiker told police that they were on a trail somewhere off of Barcelona Street and Sherwood Boulevard.
    When police arrived, they had to call out to the hikers because of the low visibility due to the high level of smoke in the area. When police did locate the hikers, one of them immediately told police that he thought his friend might be suffering from alcohol poisoning, as he was dry heaving all night. When they arrived at the fire, they saw the individual, a minor, slumped over.
    That’s when police also met up with Ian Hubbard, 19. When police asked Hubbard what his friend drank, he said a “handle” (1.75 liters) of “Ten High” bourbon. Police then noticed a nearly-empty, large bottle of bourbon about 10 feet away.
    The victim was transported to the hospital while police detained Hubbard and kept an eye on the fire, which they noticed had spread.
    “I noticed that the fire was not contained within a pit and that some of the embers and a small log had spread into an area that had many weeds,” said Officer James Keane in the report. Police were also worried because the conditions happened to be dry and gusty that day.

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