SILVER CITY — The New Mexico State Police announced on July 23 that former Lt. David Neil’s arrest following a thorough investigation into allegations of timecard and overtime fraud. The arrest marks a significant step in the department’s commitment to maintaining transparency, integrity, and accountability within its ranks.

The investigation began last year after internal audits revealed discrepancies in 55-year-old Neil’s timecard submissions and overtime claims. The discrepancies prompted NMSP to launch a comprehensive inquiry to determine the extent of the alleged fraud. Working closely with the Sixth Judicial District Attorney’s Office, investigators found substantial...

SANTA FE — On July 21, around 9 am, a New Mexico State Police officer encountered an unoccupied stolen vehicle on Hopewell Street in Santa Fe. While waiting for a tow truck to take possession of the stolen vehicle, he saw a blue SUV driving on Hopewell with a flat tire.

Once the tow truck loaded up the vehicle, the officer drove down Hopewell towards Espinacitas Street in search of the SUV. The officer found the SUV, which was driven by a male later identified as Geronimo Vigil, 37, of Santa Fe. Before the officer turned on his emergency equipment, Vigil fled from the officer recklessly, running stop signs at a high rate of speed.

A check of the vehicle’s license plate through...

Featured DWI

Nathaniel Yazzie

July 12, 9:21 pm

DWI (Second)

McKinley County Sheriff’s Office responded to a vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 491 and eventually arrested one driver, Nathaniel Yazzie, 36, for his second DWI.

Metro Dispatch advised police of a red Nissan Altima that was swerving across the road and nearly colliding with other vehicles. Deputy Dominic Molina responded to the call and traveled to the last reported scene, finding a two-vehicle crash involving the Nissan Altima near the intersection of U.S. Highway 491 and Jefferson Avenue.

Molina met the driver of the Altima, Yazzie, who reportedly was unresponsive to questions and said to “just take him...

A Gamerco man is facing child abuse charges after he reportedly struck a young boy who came into his yard to retrieve his ball.

On July 18, around 7 pm, McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Jacob Valle was dispatched to a house on the 900 block of Cascade Street after Metro Dispatch received a call about a dispute. When Valle arrived at the scene, he met with a man named Jeffery Nelson.

Nelson, 68, told Valle that some kids were jumping into his yard and people were throwing rocks at him. He also said an unidentified man punched him in the face. The incident all started when a kid jumped into Nelson’s yard to allegedly retrieve a ball.

Witnesses claimed that Nelson hit the kid with a...