Public Safety

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.

March 14

2:09 a.m. — Moses Salazar, 27, of Los Alamos, was arrested on a charge of criminal damage to property and battery against a household member in the 3900 block of Alabama Avenue.

March 15

3:52 p.m. — A 20-year old Los Alamos woman reported to police she was the victim of a larceny (over $500, less than $2,500) in the 900 block of San Ildefonso Road.

March 16

3:30 p.m. — Tyler Jones, 27, of Los Alamos, was cited for committing a larceny (over $500 less than $2,500) in the 900 block of San Ildefonso Road.

8:45 p.m. — Police arrested a 17-year-old Los Alamos teen for speeding, possession of marijuana (less than one ounce) and possession of drug paraphernalia in the 3700 block of East Jemez Road. She was released to her parents and referred to juvenile authorities.

3 a.m. — Christopher McKenzie, 32, of Santa Fe, was arrested on a charge of battery against a household member in the 3300 block of Canyon Road.

The highways and roads that lead to the village of Chimayó will be crowded next week as thousands of people begin their pilgrimage to El Santuario de Chimayó.
The largest crowds will be seen on Good Friday, March 29, but road congestion and minor delays can be expected any time in this area during Holy Week, the week before Easter Sunday.
NMDOT District Five maintenance crews have begun sweeping operations and are preparing safe walking areas along U.S. Highway 84/285, N.M. 502, N.M. 503 and N.M. 76. Electronic message boards and other traffic signs will be placed along these routes to alert motorists to the expected large number of pedestrians on the road.
NMDOT maintenance crews will place trash receptacles along the roads and portable lighting structures will be stationed at strategic locations to aid nighttime walkers.
The regulation against roadside vending on the highway right-of-way will be strictly enforced to protect the safety of pilgrims and motorists. Parking on Juan Medina Road in Chimayo will not be allowed. No open burning is permitted due to extreme wildfire danger.

If you’re interested in the way law enforcement works or perhaps taking part in your community in a meaningful way, the Los Alamos Police Department may have just the job you’re looking for.

The LAPD has restarted its volunteer staffing program and there are numerous positions available, including neighborhood watch, prisoner meal prep, fingerprinting and records management.

Recently, residents interested in the volunteer program attended a meeting hosted by LAPD Chief Wayne Torpy and Cmdr. Randy Foster.

“Thank you for at least coming to listen to us and we would appreciate any involvement you would like to have with us,” Torpy told the volunteers who attended.

Torpy said the program came about as a way to solve a number of fiscal and logistical obstacles the department had been experiencing lately.

“We’ve been looking at ways to take duties paid employees had been doing within the police department and lessen that amount of work they have to do, or eliminate it completely,” Torpy said.

He said his department would be grateful for whatever number of volunteers they could get to help out.

Police arrested a 29-year-old Los Alamos man for allegedly sexually assaulting another employee while working an overnight shift March 13 at the Chevron station on Trinity Drive.

According to police reports, the suspect Carlos Martinez, allegedly trapped a female co-worker in a walk-in freezer and allegedly abused the victim before letting her go.

Martinez faces three felony sex charges and a kidnapping charge, since he forcefully kept the woman in the freezer until she complied with his demands.

He is currently being held in the Los Alamos Detention Center on a $50,000 cash-only bond, according to Los Alamos Police Department Cmdr. Randy Foster.

Police stated the alleged victim came into the Los Alamos police station March 12 to give a detailed statement about what happened.

She told police that Martinez sexually assaulted her on the night of March 8, the culmination of a series of incidents that made the victim uncomfortable and allegedly sick to her stomach on several occasions.

In warrant documents obtained from Los Alamos Magistrate Court, the victim detailed how Martinez would follow her around at work talking about sex as he also allegedly tried to pressure into her having sex with him.