Latest news with #KRQENews13
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘He's a fighter': Family describes Bloomfield officer fighting for life after traffic stop shooting
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – A New Mexico police officer is still fighting for his life after getting shot during a traffic stop in Bloomfield. Bloomfield police Officer Timothy Ontiveros was transported from San Juan County Tuesday afternoon to University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque. Many of Timothy Ontiveros's family members have come from out of town to support him in the hospital. Story continues below Entertainment: First-of-its-kind indoor pickleball facility coming to northeast Albuquerque Community: Albuquerque church leaning on faith after 2 members killed by their son Environment: What should New Mexicans do if they come across a raccoon? KRQE News 13 spoke with his sister, who described him as a fighter. 'He'd give you the shirt off his back. He would help anybody on the road. He saw someone on the side of the road, he's going to stop, whether it's money, food, shoes. That's the kind of kid Timothy is,' said Sierra Sanchez, sister of Officer Ontiveros. She is in town from Texas, as her little brother fights for his life. Ontiveros has been undergoing surgeries at UNMH after getting shot in the neck and shoulder. 'He's bullheaded. He will fight. I promise you, he'll fight to the very end because that's who he's always been,' said Sanchez. Bloomfield police department said on Monday night, Officer Ontiveros pulled over 58-year-old Dennis Armenta, who then shot him. Another officer at the scene shot and killed that driver. 'I know if it was me in that hospital and him out here, he'd be strong for me. So, I've got to be strong for him,' said Sanchez. Ontiveros is originally from Texas and moved to New Mexico, where he now lives with his two daughters, 17 and four years old. 'He would move heaven and earth for those two little girls,' said Sanchez. Ontiveros works as a volunteer firefighter in Aztec and was a police officer in Farmington before getting a job with Bloomfield PD, where he's worked for the last six months. His family said he takes great pride in working for law enforcement. 'He was doing what he loved. Like, I don't know if he would have it any other way. Like he was protecting and serving, and that's all we could ask for him,' said Sanchez. Ontiveros has undergone multiple surgeries and is stable but in critical condition. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Yahoo
A shooting rampage against police takes officers on a city wide car chase; New Mexico Crime Files
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – First, 35-year-old Christopher Chase told witnesses to call the police that he would be waiting for them, and then ambushed the officers who responded first. The city-wide chase that ensued leaves a trail of injured officers and destruction. Then, in 2023, police in Alamogordo attempted to pull over a speeding car. Christopher Murrin, the driver, flees. When he's finally caught, police find empty alcohol bottles, drug paraphernalia, and a history of twelve previous DWI charges. Finally, KRQE News anchors Dean Staley and Jessica Garate bring you the story of Dalton Cunningham from 2021. After he is seen on video stealing a bait car, police realize he has a gun and remotely disable the car, leading to a standoff and a foot chase with officers. The video of the desperate shootout from inside the bait car is here. About New Mexico Crime Files This is New Mexico Crime Files – Taking it from the streets, then to the courtroom, to finally answering 'where are they now?'. Each week, KRQE News 13 anchors Dean Staley and Jessica Garate bring you the notorious, the unforgettable, and the unbelievable crime stories from the Land of Enchantment. New Mexico Crime Files is sponsored by MedradoStruck Law Firm. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Lawsuit filed over Santa Fe charter school's Zozobra burning gone wrong
SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – A school reenactment of a New Mexico tradition quickly turned dangerous, and now some parents are taking legal action. A new lawsuit claims The Academy For Technology and The Classics Charter School in Santa Fe was negligent when they had their own zozobra burning and left some students injured. Story continues below Job News: NM proposes rule aimed at preventing heat illness for workers Poll Results: Where is the best place to go fishing in New Mexico? Don't Miss: One man's journey out of the juvenile justice system to mentorship According to the lawsuit, last August, the charter school did their own burning of Zozobra on campus without a burn permit. The suit claims a 9th-grade student was given accelerants to light up a 15-foot marionette, while other students, including the plaintiff's child, watched nearby. The suit said the Zozobra narrator said, 'Can someone please make me burn again?' That's when the suit said that same student poured more accelerant, causing a large flash of fire. A few students were reported to have minor injuries, but the lawsuit claims the plaintiff's child had second-degree burns that will leave permanent scars and has been diagnosed with PTSD. The plaintiff's attorneys said the charter school had a duty to keep the environment safe and failed to do so. KRQE News 13 reached out to The Academy For Technology and The Classics Charter School for comment on the lawsuit, but did not hear back. Santa Fe Public Schools is also named in the lawsuit,t but the district told KRQE News 13 they are inappropriately named, citing state law that states the district is not liable for incidents like this at charter schools. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
State auditor and Attorney General investigate missing money in Mora County
MORA COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) – Nearly three million dollars in public funds have gone missing, and now two of the state's top investigators are bearing down on Mora County, which was charged with overseeing that cash. 'We've been receiving complaints from a county official about potential financial malfeasance, conflicts of interest, potential procurement violations,' said Joseph Maestas, New Mexico State Auditor. Story continues below Trending: Remains found in Santa Fe National Forest identified as 1950s wrestler, actor Don't Miss: Santa Fe teacher, principal, and school counselor put on administrative leave Entertainment: Which Santa Fe spots did Guy Fieri visit on 'Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives'? Those whistleblower complaints led the auditor to declare a 'special audit' against Mora County. An accounting firm looking into that county's finances found the red flag.'This forensic accountant disclosed the fact that there was 2.7 million dollars in unaccounted for funds,' said Maestas. It comes as Mora County is simultaneously managing $40 million in state wildfire relief funding after the Hermits Peak Calf Canyon Fire. Countywide, dozens of roads and culverts need repair following flooding on burn scars. 'Regarding the 40 million dollars in disaster relief funds for infrastructure repair and replacement, we're concerned in terms of whether or not the county can adequately manage that amount of funds,' said Maestas. While investigators still need to get to the bottom of exactly where the county's missing $2.7 million and what those dollars are supposed to be for, the auditor said the financial mess signals major concerns for Mora County. 'I have an obligation to the Mora county residents to ensure them that we're going to get to the bottom of any financial mismanagement and ensure that the 40 million dollars that's been set aside for disaster relief and mitigation is spent appropriately,' said Maestas. The New Mexico Department of Justice also confirmed with KRQE News 13 on Wednesday that they're opening a review into financial concerns surrounding Mora County's finances. The county manager's office did not return KRQE News 13's call on Wednesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Part of lawsuit dismissed against Farmington officers in fatal wrong address shooting
FARMINGTON, N.M. (KRQE) – Three Farmington police officers and the city have been sued by a family after police showed up at the wrong house, and shot to death the father. The family claims his constitutional rights were violated. However, a federal judge has ruled that the three officers are immune from that part of the lawsuit. Man accused of stabbing 8-year-old in Albuquerque pleads not guilty to charges That federal judge has dismissed part of the lawsuit. The family of Robert Dotson claimed that his Fourth Amendment rights, which are protection against unwarranted search and seizure, were violated by three Farmington police officers. In April 2023, 911 was called about a domestic violence incident at an address, but officers showed up at a home across the street. As officers were verifying the address, the homeowner came to the door. Dotson was armed with a handgun as he opened the door and aimed it into the night. Police fired, striking him 12 times, killing him. The federal judge ruled that even though the officer's error was the reason they were at the house, that's not the reason they used force. The federal judge said Dotson's movement was perceived as an imminent threat by the officers, meaning their use of force was justified. At the time, Dotson's wife said her family was scared, but the court ruled that even if the family was afraid of being attacked by intruders, Dotson's movements towards officers were what caused the deadly use-of-force, even if he didn't know they were police. The court ultimately said they were not provided with evidence to show the officers willfully violated Dotson's constitutional rights, but did say they were negligent. KRQE News 13 reached out to the family's lawyer for a comment on the ruling, but did not hear back. A trial date has not been set for the lawsuit against the City of Farmington. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
