An ABC15 investigation found Superiors police force was filled with discredited cops, who were enabled by a broken Brady list system that let them escape lasting accountability and kept past transgressions hidden from disclosure. A man named Richard Manriquez is suing officers for a 2016 incident, alleging excessive force and an unlawful search of his home based on a false statements to obtain a warrant. The incident reports are filled with untrue and highly-questionable statements, including a false allegation that Peterson refused to identify himself to the female officer and another saying he took an aggressive stance before resisting arrest. But local journalists still have to eat. He believes the entire department needs to be shut down with the towns law enforcement responsibilities taken over by the county sheriff. One of the officers pursuing him, Martin Sosa, has his own similar criminal history. Former Rio Arriba County sheriffs Deputy Joseph Aquino gets into an altercation in March 2019 with George Vigil, an employee at Family Dollar in Chimay. Aquino had a long history of disciplinary actions being taken against him at the Rio Arriba Sheriffs Office, including a citizen complaint of harassment during a traffic stop, an unsafe high speed pursuit, and a DWI arrest and a domestic violence incident while off-duty. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. , VIDEO: Giant I-40 light poles sway in strong ABQ, Taxidermy birds used to make drones at New Mexico, PHOTOS: Storm leaves parts of state covered in snow, PHOTOS: Winter storm moves through NM leaving snow, PHOTOS: Storm causes snowy, icy roads across New, Map: New Mexico Veterans Monuments and Memorials, 13 Broadcast Pl SW, Albuquerque, NM, 87104, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Clay who reported on the fallout from the incident in August 2019 for the Rio Grande Sun said in an affidavit she was in Lujans office in late March 2019 and heard Lujan say to Aquino, Good job, not killing him, little mouthy bastard, while referring to the incident with Vigil. Throughout his cross examination of Lattin, the first witness in the trial, Bowles pointed out inconsistencies in Lattins statement. Lattin said he overheard Lujan on the phone with Chacon and followed Lujan to where they met up. Lujan is charged with resisting, evading or obstructing officers in those cases and is scheduled to go on trial next month. He attended the University of New Mexico, where he majored in multimedia journalism. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Published December 2nd, 2021 at 9:02 am, Last Updated December 2nd, 2021 at 4:53 pm. One of his top accomplishments is building the . Sheriff James Lujan, current and former Rio Arriba County commissioners, County Manager Tomas Campos and other county employees are defendants in the lawsuit, in which Aquino seeks an unspecified amount in damages. Not at all, Peterson said. Sheriff at Rio Arriba Sheriffs Office Espanola, New Mexico, United States. His staff includedone former and six future sheriffs, according toArizona Fraternal Order of Police. Cochiti St NE. The Rio Arriba County Commission on Dec. 6 appointed then Maj. Billy Merrifield a seven-year veteran of the sheriffs office to fill Lujans post until the voters chose a new sheriff in 2023. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Judge Bryan Biedscheid in June ordered a second case against Lujan one that hadn't yet gone to trial moved to Santa Fe as well. Aug. 20A state district judge ruled Friday that Rio Arriba County Sheriff James Lujan is too well-known in the county to stand trial there and a criminal case against him will be heard, instead, in Santa Fe. Espaola Police arrested Rio Arriba County Sheriff James Lujan on Thursday after he refused to unlock and turn over his phone to responding officers. Superior police claimed he resisted arrest. New York? Navarrette was out with friends at the time of the arrest, the report said. All rights reserved. Instead, immediately call the Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Department at 575-588-7350. One of the key officers in Peterson's arrest was Christian Ensley. The judge said she previously "underestimated the effect of trying the sheriff in the county in which he is sheriff" and the effect the "overwhelming number of deputies" at the courthouse would have on jurors and witnesses. Former Rio Arriba County Sheriff's deputy Joseph Aquino gets into an altercation with George Vigil, an employee at Family Dollar in Chimay, in March of 2019. In March of last year, Lujan showed up drunk at a crime scene, again involving Phil Chacon, and refused to leave. Leading Arizona: A look at the state's governors. The case will now be assigned to District Court and will be scheduled for an arraignment. Rio Arriba County officials, including some of those named in the lawsuit, vehemently denied allegations in the suit and pointed to the events leading to Aquinos firing as justification for his dismissal. @Copwatchtv has been following the saga between the Rio Arriba Sheriff and Espaola Police Department. Rio Arriba County Sheriff Thomas Rodella, sitting in the defendant's chair rather than on the side of the law, and his family were visibly upset when jurors . Rio Arriba County Undersheriff Martin Ray Trujillo has agreed to retire at the end of the month, in exchange for a prosecutor dropping the felony charge he was facing. The arrest was also captured on body camera and shows Ensley taser Maughn after he was handcuffed and laying on the ground. ABQ's independent, alternative, reader-supported news. These charges stemmed from Lujans attempts to assist former Espaola City Councilor Phillip Chacon when he took over a crime scene at Chacons home in 2020 and also helped him in avoiding police by leading them on a high speed chase in 2017. 97 followers . [WARNING: The video below contains police violence and graphic language]. "America's Toughest Sheriff" was dethroned in the 2016 election by Paul Penzone, and ended his 24 years in office, the longest run of any sheriff in Maricopa County. "MANIA: The ABBA Tribute" is scheduled to play the KiMo Theatre on Sunday, March 5,, Albuquerque Talent Development Academy while turning down that of another, El Camino Real Academy., SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) -- Cowboys for Trump cofounder Couy Griffin was found not guilty. State District Judge Kathleen McGarry Ellenwood sentenced former Rio Arriba County Sheriff James Lujan to three years in prison followed by a year and a half of probation Thursday, a day. Its a chaotic scene thats easier to understand by watching. His wife was the second schoolteacher to come to Phoenix. Ive done this whole spiel man. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. There was nothing I could do.. Create a password that only you will remember. The charters Trump cowboy found not guilty of campaign finance charge. Dec. 29Former Rio Arriba County Sheriff James Lujan, already a convicted felon, pleaded no contest Wednesday to a charge accusing him of interfering with a March 2020 operation by Espaola. I was basically guilty until I proved myself innocent, he said. It was Officer Richard Mueller, whos worked for four different law enforcement agencies. The complaint, filed last month in state District Court, reads like a whos who of Rio Arriba County officials and includes allegations of bribes, threats, personal use of public resources and nepotism. Tabitha Clay is an investigative journalist with a focus on criminal justice and policing. Reeb dismissed two other counts of the same charge, related to Lujans failure to cooperate with Espaola officers and Taos County sheriffs deputies who arrived at the Rio Arriba County Sheriffs Office in May 2020 to execute search warrants for his cellphones. Navarrette said. This is the name that will be used to identify you within the system. William Cunningham had a short time as sheriff, just two weeks, as he finished out John Walker's term, according to Arizona Fraternal Order of Police. Trujillo faces up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine. As of Monday, however, the spokesperson said Navarrette returned to regular duty. Starr Daley was hanged at the scene of the crimes he was accused of:murdering a man and kidnapping and raping the man's wife. Thursday morning Judge Kathleen McGarry Ellenwood ruled Lujan will spend two years behind bars for the intimidation charge and one year for harboring. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Each county attorneys office keeps their own list in their own way, applying all different standards for what misconduct belongs. Later she headed theCrime Prevention Bureau, and served in government positions in later years such as county auditor and county treasurer. Rio Arriba County Sheriff James Lujan is not above the law. Noah Broadway was an original Phoenix settler, and along with being a Civil War veteran and farmer, he was sheriff of Maricopa County from 1885 to 1886. Rio Arriba County Sheriff James Lujan was sentenced on Thursday morning after being convicted of aiding a felon and intimidating a witness. Invitational brings 16 NM brewery together for a stout 2023 Stout Invitational, hosted by Bathtub 2023 Stout Invitational, hosted by Bathtub Row Brewing Co-Op, 163 Central Park Square in Los Alamos, will be held from noon to 6 p.m. "MANIA: The ABBA Tribute" is scheduled "MANIA: The ABBA Tribute" is scheduled to play the KiMo Theatre on Sunday, March 5, as part of its United States tour. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Santa Fe jury did the job they were asked to do. Lujans Attorney Jason Bowles says he plans to appeal. In addition to working at KSFR, Gino is a freelance photojournalist and can also be heard providing play-by-play commentary for the NA3HL New Mexico Ice Wolves. Rio Rancho. If it is retried, he believes his client will be acquitted because the charges arent valid. Lujan is serving three years in prison for harboring a felon and intimidating a witness, both felonies. He was, however, elected the following yearfor the 1926-27 term. The officer then asked Navarrette to step out of his car after confirming he worked for the Pinal County Sheriff's Office. There is no pavement on Napoleons road, he added. N----, Im from Arizona dude. An ABC15 investigation found Superior's police force is filled with discredited cops, who've been enabled by a broken Brady list system that lets them escape lasting accountability and keeps . Local News. Reeb filed the motions following the mistrial in Tierra Amarilla, arguing in part that as the elected sheriff of the county, Lujan held too much influence over its residents for jurors there to be impartial. Lujan is facing charges of bribery of. This isnt New York man," the ASU officer said. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. ABC15 compared Brady lists from every Arizona county to every AZPOST case going back to 2000. MORE:Sheriff Carl Hayden led pursuit of Tempe teens intrain robbery. During his time in office he made a Planning and Research division as well as expanded communications, such as the 9-1-1 system. Copyright 2020 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Q&A with Paul Penzone, Maricopa County sheriff-elect, Paul Penzone: 17 things to expect from me as sheriff, Maricopa County Sheriff-elect Paul Penzone names leadership team. But an ABC15 investigation found Superiors police force was filled with discredited cops, who were enabled by a broken Brady list system that let them escape lasting accountability and kept past transgressions hidden from disclosure. The jury began deliberations around 3 p.m. Thursday, but by around 2:30 p.m. Friday, McGarry declared the mistrial. 'Cliffs of Dover' guitarist Eric Johnson bringing tour to Grammy-winning guitarist Eric Johnson will make Grammy-winning guitarist Eric Johnson will make a stop at the National Hispanic Cultural Center on Saturday, March 4. Contests and special offers from The Santa Fe New Mexican and advertising partners. Meanwhile, this is the second Rio Arriba County sheriff to be sent to prison in recent years. FULL DISCLOSURE: Arizona's broken "Brady List" system, If they dont know about it, then these officers are going to be certified even in the unlikely event they were to get fired, Keenan said. 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