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Gamerco man attempts to bite arresting officer’s neck

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Suspect booked for two counts of battery upon a police officer

McKinley County Sheriff’s Dep. Anthony Morales headed to the 500 block of Chino Road in Gamerco March 19 after a woman reported that Adrian K. Chavez, 31, “was going to kill her.”

Morales was familiar with Chavez. The two “have had previous incidents,” according to the police report, and Morales was aware that Chavez had mental health issues.

As he was driving to the latest incident, Morales spotted Chavez heading northbound on Crystal Avenue, and turned his car around to approach him. Exiting the car, Morales heard Chavez say, “Pop this white boy,” and then pointed his finger towards him, according to Morales’ report.

Morales brought Chavez to his police car and began to handcuff him. He was able to get one wrist in handcuffs before Chavez reached for Morales’ gun; Morales then pushed Chavez onto the hood of his car and attempted to secure the second cuff.

MCSO Dep. Roxanne Slim arrived to assist Morales. Seeing the struggle, Slim made an attempt to restrain the suspect, grabbing Chavez’s right arm. In response, Chavez took Slim by the back of her neck and attempted to bite her, according to Morales’ report. Following this, Morales wrestled Chavez to the ground. Slim took out her Taser and stunned Chavez in the thigh.

As written in Morales’ report, Chavez continued attempts to bite the officers, and spat at them. Chavez reportedly kicked Slim, and again reached for Morales’ gun.

After another struggle, Morales, with the assistance  of a third officer, was able to finish placing Chavez in handcuffs.

The woman who first reported Chavez declined to make further statements after he was apprehended, saying officers did not arrive quickly enough to the scene – a result of their struggle with Chavez.

Chavez was charged with two counts of battery upon a police officer and one count of resisting or evading an officer.

By Abigail Rowe
Sun Editor