11-22-2023 9:39pm

Dominic De La O Found Guilty by Two Separate Juries

Chris Edwards Editor

The Twelfth Judicial District Attorney’s Office announces on November 21, 2023, that Otero County Juries have found Dominic De La O, age 26, guilty of Aggravated Fleeing, Driving While Intoxicated – Drugs, Driving on a Suspended License, Possession of Methamphetamine, Negligent Use of a Deadly Weapon and two counts of Resisting, Evading or Obstructing an Officer.

The first set of charges for aggravated fleeing, DWI and driving on a suspended license was prosecuted in a one (1) day trial on November 14th, and the second set of charges for possession of methamphetamine, negligent use of a firearm and resisting, obstructing was prosecuted in a two (2) day trial on November 16th and 17th. Both jury trials were in front of the Honorable Judge John P. Sugg.

On January 24, 2022, De La O was observed driving on Highway 54 by an Officer and was known to not have a valid Driver’s License (driving on a suspended license). Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop, however De La O fled (aggravated fleeing) throughout the City of Alamogordo. Officers did locate the vehicle a short time later and were able to take De La O into custody. Upon his arrest, De La O stated he fled because he had consumed Clonazepam and knew he shouldn’t be driving after its use (Driving While Intoxicated – Drugs).

On January 29, 2023, Officers were dispatched to the area of Ridgecrest after De La O was seen in the vicinity. Upon making contact with De La O, he fled on foot (resisting/evading/obstructing count 1) to a nearby carwash. As officers scuffled (resisting/evading/obstructing count 2) with De La O, he produced a handgun (negligent use of a deadly weapon), causing one (1) officer to discharge his weapon, striking De La O. De La O was transported with non-life threatening injuries. Law Enforcement executed a search warrant on De La O’s vehicle and clothing, locating a baggie with a crystalline substance in his jeans. The substance was tested and was positively identified as Methamphetamine (possession of methamphetamine).

These cases were prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Armand Velez with Trial Attorney Christopher Suarez, and Senior Trial Attorney Thomas Erickson respectively.

De La O is also accused of killed Officer Anthony Ferguson during a pursuit on July 15, 2023. According to investigators, Ferguson was running after De La O when he shot Ferguson in the face. “Officer Anthony Ferguson had stopped his patrol vehicle and gave foot chase to a male subject wearing a blue shirt. At some point that male subject turned his body and discharged a firearm, striking Officer Ferguson . Dominic De La O is facing multiple charges related to the murder and the death of Alamogordo police officer Ferguson. The trial date is yet to be announced.