6-09-2024 5:14am

New Mexico State Police Round Up of Recent Activities and Arrests

Chris Edwards Editor

The New Mexico State Police in partnership with local law enforcement agencies were actively involved in raiding multiple locations in and around Otero County and Alamogordo this past week. Several residents reported seeing homes surrounded with a heavy police presence and hearing flash-bangs as a part of the raids. The various departments confirmed police activities were are are ongoing and that details of the operations will soon be released.

On June 4, 2024, at around 9:50 p.m., the New Mexico State Police was requested by the Ruidoso Police Department to respond to a head-on collision near 1408 Mechem Drive.

The initial investigation indicated that a 2020 Dodge Ram pickup truck driven by Jadyn Wyatt Mow, 22, of Nogal, was traveling north on Mechem, and a 2002 Subaru passenger car driven by George S. Fitzgibbon, 46, of Ruidoso, was traveling south on Mechem. The Dodge Ram crossed the center line into opposing traffic and struck the Subaru head-on. Mr. Fitzgibbon suffered fatal injuries in the collision and was pronounced deceased on the scene by the Office of the Medical Investigator.

State Police officers determined that Mow was driving his vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. After being treated for minor injuries, he was booked into the Lincoln County Detention Center and charged with DWI, resulting in Great Bodily Harm or Death.

The New Mexico State Police Uniform Bureau is investigating this incident with assistance from the New Mexico State Police Vehicular Crimes Unit.

In other confirmed actions from May 20, 2024, through June 2, 2024, the New Mexico State Police participated in the National Occupant Protection Mobilization, Click it or Ticket (CIOT) Campaign. The CIOT Campaign was conducted on all roadways within the state with an emphasis on seat belt use for both drivers and passengers.

During the two-week CIOT Campaign, New Mexico State Police officers issued a total of 373 traffic citations (232 citations were for lack of seat belt usage and 21 citations were for no child restraint). Officers made a total of 6 arrests (1 DWI arrest, and 5 Misdemeanor arrests).

The safety of motorists is a top priority of the New Mexico State Police and officers will continue to conduct operations throughout the year. We encourage the public to drive safely and obey all laws while traveling the highways of New Mexico.

New Mexico State Police’s Crime Suppression Bureau Continues to Safeguard Communities with Multiple Arrests. During May of 2024 the New Mexico State Polices' Crime Suppression Bureau has yielded the following results while working operations in Bernalillo County and a 4-day operation in District 2 Las Vegas:

• Felony arrests 70
• Misdemeanor arrests 5
• Stolen vehicles recovered 15
• Stolen license plates recovered 1
• Firearms recovered 8 (3 stolen)
• Fentanyl seized 18.4 kilos (powder 1.1 grams)
• Methamphetamine seized 21.9 kilos
• Cocaine seized 17.9 kilos
• Crack cocaine seized 40 grams
• Marijuana 8.5 grams
• Xanax 5 doses
• Suboxone strips 17 doses
• Suboxone liquid 6.1 grams
• Morphine 15 ML
• Citations 250

New Mexico State Police has partnered with the 2nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office in Bernalillo County and New Mexico Corrections Department’s Security Threat Intelligence Unit, when working many of these operations.