By Wren Abbott
SUN Staff Writer
Law enforcement handled two unattended deaths within a two-hour span and four non-fatal suspected drug overdoses within the past week.
Joe Martinez Jr., 36, of Chamita, was found deceased outside an Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo residence May 3 at 7:45 p.m. by a homeowner who summoned Tribal Police, according to Danny Breuninger, spokesman for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which took over the case.
Breuninger said Martinez Jr.'s cause of death is unknown at this point.
"At this point in the investigation, it is undetermined whether it was an actual overdose," Breuninger said.
Breuninger said there was no evidence at the scene to suggest what might have caused Martinez's death.
More. . .
Livin’ With Drillin’
(SUNfoto by Matt van Buren)
Tony Schmitz stands near a pump jack on his ranch in Lindrith. His sons depend on new drilling to keep their company going. Schmitz said his family has had some trouble dealing with oil and gas companies in the past, but he said, "They're getting better all the time."
As residents east of Tierra Amarilla
fight to keep drillers off their land,
Lindrith ranchers have come to live
with and benefit from industry
By Matt van Buren
SUN Staff Writer
Tony Schmitz's grandfather homesteaded his property in Lindrith in 1917. The land has been supporting the family ever since, but Rio Arriba County's recent actions have the Schmitzes worried about their livelihood.
Lindrith used to be cattle country, with sprawling ranches able to support the families that inhabited them. Now agriculture isn't enough for many landowners in this tiny outpost near Rio Arriba's western boundary, and residents have come to depend on the oil and gas wells that have been popping up in the area since the 1950s.
The County's temporary moratorium on new oil and gas wells, passed at the County Commission's April 24 meeting, has many Lindrith residents concerned about their future.
More. . .
Fireman Accused Of
Threatening Son With Gun
No charges have been filed in case
By Wren Abbott
SUN Staff Writer
An Española firefighter has been accused of threatening his son with a gun and ramming his car with a tow truck, according to Española Police.
Cesar Vargas, 42, of Española, allegedly pointed a handgun at his son, Gavin Vargas, 19, and threatened to kill him May 2 at about 10 p.m. over a dispute regarding ownership of Gavin Vargas' Dodge Neon, the police report states.
Cesar Vargas allegedly confronted his son at Milagro Mobile Home Park, where Gavin Vargas was visiting a friend, and blocked him in with a tow truck, before using the truck to ram the Dodge, causing it to spin and sustain heavy damage.
More. . .
Region III Task Force
Ignores Rio Arriba County
By Wren Abbott
SUN Staff Writer
The multi-agency task force in charge of investigating drug trafficking in three Northern New Mexico counties has not served a single search warrant this year in Rio Arriba.
During the same time period, the Region III Narcotics Task Force has served seven warrants in Santa Fe County. Region III agents seized 86.3 grams of cocaine, 113.2 grams of crack cocaine, 90.8 grams of marijuana, and 59.9 grams of suspected methamphetamine in Santa Fe County so far in 2008 (all in the city of Santa Fe, according to court documents). Region III has seized no drugs so far this year in Rio Arriba County, where there were 26 fatal drug overdoses last year and a 21 percent increase in accidental overdoses since 2006 for the County with the highest drug overdose rate in the state between 2004 and 2006, according to data from the state Health Department.
More . . .
Charter School’s Principal
Works Without License
By Jose de Wit
SUN Staff Writer
Los Cariños Charter School Principal Victoria Garcia is not licensed to be a school administrator — which is allowable under state statute. Garcia does have a teaching license, and that is enough to be principal of a charter school, provided the school hires an outside consultant with an administrative license to conduct staff evaluations.
The trouble is, for most of this school year, Los Cariños did not have such a consultant.
It did in 2006, when the school opened its doors. Former Los Cariños School Board member Tony Garcia, who had an administrative license, conducted evaluations for the school until last year, said Victoria Garcia, who has been the school's principal since its inception. After he left, the school had a verbal agreement with former Española School District superintendent and then-Española Military Academy principal Benito Chavez to conduct the evaluations, but was left without a consultant again because Chavez fell ill.
More. . .
Irony Abounds in Man’s
Alleged Attack on Girlfriend
By Wren Abbott
SUN Staff Writer
The Española man who lost his leg in a 2006 attempted-murder case for which defendant Gilbert Martinez was acquitted is now facing his own attempted murder charge, according to State Police.
Manuel Salais, 22, is accused of firing three shots at his girlfriend, Amanda Armijo, May 2 on the side of a road in Hernandez, State Police Lt. Daniel Lovato said Tuesday. Salais is charged with attempted first-degree murder, attempt to commit a felony, aggravated assault against a household member with intent to commit a felony, tampering with evidence, battery against a household member, and shooting at an occupied dwelling, court documents state.
More . . .
