Latest news with #AmandaRichards
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
New Mexico State Police crack down on underage drinking at Boots in the Park
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – In just over a year, a newer country music concert series has drawn big crowds to Balloon Fiesta Park, and police say that same event is one they're watching for underage drinking. With a sold-out crowd, 'Boots in the Park' was brought back for a second time to Albuquerque last month. While Balloon Fiesta is used to handling big crowds, there's one element police say makes a big concert series more difficult. 'Unfortunately, when there is big crowds like this and alcohol, there is going to be those few in the crowd,' said New Mexico State Police Public Information Officer Amanda Richards. Story continues below Trending: Rio Rancho High baseball player accused of urinating in water jug no longer faces charges News: VIDEO: Albuquerque man accused of killing 14 dogs denies accusations Environment: Researcher explains why earthquakes are rattling parts of New Mexico New Mexico State Police issued 12 citations at the park for underage drinking, with teens using fake IDs or, in some cases, getting adults to buy alcohol for them. In response, the event organizer sent KRQE News 13 a statement saying: 'Activated Events enforces strict alcohol safety at all festivals through trained bartenders, dedicated ID specialists, and multi-layered age checks. We work closely with local authorities to exceed regulations, reflecting our commitment to responsible service and festival attendee safety.' 'I think it's always possible, right, it's a collaboration between law enforcement, we are there trying to do our part, but it's also up to the alcohol servers as well, right to make sure that there is responsible serving of alcohol as well,' said Richards. While 12 citations may not seem like a big deal compared to the size of the crowd, they know they can't catch everyone. 'It can lead to other things like DWIs or fights or other things like that. Alcohol can have some lasting consequences,' said Richards. They are prepared to make changes if the trend continues. 'If this continues to grow, then of course, State Police will step up and do our part to keep the crowds safe so this event can still be enjoyable to the public,' said Richards. Activated Events said they're planning on bringing 'Boots in the Park' back for 2026, but no dates have been set yet. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Yahoo
Flung guns: Inmates find more pistols while cleaning up New Mexico highways
Mar. 19—Some gun owners apparently haven't gotten wind of Toss No Mas. A total of four firearms have been found by prisoners cleaning up trash on highways across New Mexico this year — under tumbleweeds and hanging on a fence post. Two of the handguns were discovered by inmate work crews in the past several days, one on Interstate 40 in Cibola County and another on Interstate 25 in Valencia County. They were found less than two months after inmates found two handguns alongside I-25 near the Santo Domingo Pueblo exit. The discoveries came as the New Mexico Corrections Department has more than quadrupled the number of inmate crews and clean-ups. In the past there was one crew doing four cleanups a week, but this year there are five crews picking up trash 22 times weekly, according to spokeswoman Brittany Roembach. The department, in a Facebook post, said in each case the inmates reported the guns to corrections officers, and the firearms were turned over to law enforcement. The more recent incident occurred Monday, when inmates from the Los Lunas prison found an unloaded 9mm pistol along I-25 near Los Lunas, the department said. "The inmate who located the firearm immediately alerted the supervising corrections officer, who secured all inmates in the work vehicle," according to the post. The inmates were interviewed and searched once back at the prison. The gun was turned over to New Mexico State Police. Amanda Richards, a State Police spokesperson, said, "Due to its condition, it has not yet been confirmed if it was stolen." "The gun was severely rusted and weathered, having appeared to be there for several years," she said. The Corrections Department said days earlier, on March 13, a four-inmate work crew from a Grants prison discovered a loaded 9mm handgun "hanging from a barbed wire fence" along I-40 southeast of Grants. "The supervising corrections officer immediately secured the firearm and ensured the safety of the inmate work crew," according to the post. The firearm was seized by the Cibola County Sheriff's Office. "Upon their return to the facility, the inmates were thoroughly searched, resulting in no additional findings," the department said.
