8-12-2024 1:00pm

Pressure Intensifies on Otero County Sheriff's Office for Answers in Elijah Hadley Officer Involved Shooting

Chris Edwards Editor

The Otero County Sheriff's Office is feeling intense pressure to provide answers concerning the officer involved shooting and death of Elijah Hadley.

With protestors having a presence at the sheriff's offices almost daily, despite obstacles, the engagement of the ACLU, family and tribal leaders in contact with state officials and federal officials, pressure and a presence at the County Boatd of Commissioners meetings; public interest is increasing with a demand for an explanation and comment by county leadership.

One organizer spoke with ATN, (on a condition of anonymity out of concern for her family's safety), and said that the AG's office is being asked to also investigate not only the Sheriff's Office but also District One County Commissioner, Vickie Marquardt for conflicts of interest, failure to recuse herself or disclose her ties to her brother in law, Sheriff Black; on votes related to pay raises, budgets and department contracts and oversight.

With the Sheriff's failure to attend the most recent county commission meeting to address constituents and no consequences from the commission; advocates for justice for Elijah Hadley are now calling for investigations into the commission itself as well as the Sheriff's office. "It's obvious the commission has no interest whatsoever in oversight and have no real interest in controlling tbe sherrif" said said the representative.

Sherrif Black was elected to clean up a department that was riddled with corruption, questionable tactics and poor hiring practices under the previous sherrif..

More recently he has faced a rash of missteps by deputies and his failed response to the public seeking answers is causing a loss of confidence among those within rhe department according to department sources.

The public is also loosing confidence as has certain press outlets such as Fox News affiliate KFOX14 that in a story titled, Otero County Sheriff lashes out at KFOX14 avoiding questions and interview, states that, after giving Black more than 24 hours to comment, KFOX14 aired a story.

It wasn't until two days later when Golden (the Fox News reporter) followed up again, that Black decided it was finally time to respond:

Due to the fact that you have already written your story and it has been posted, you have tainted the viewers towards the Otero County Sheriff 's Office. Your story also reflects the possibility of a lawsuit to be filed so with that said there will be no interview and no additional information will be given to you. This is the second time you have written a story about this agency and have shown it in a bad way. Both times you did not have all of the information you jumped on the story with half truths and half of what happened. You would think a journalist would get the complete story before posting the story, after all we in Law enforcement have to, but you get to manipulate the story to your likings instead.

Golden responded to Black the next evening, reminding him of KFOX14's efforts to get in touch with him over the past two years, and giving him the opportunity to explain why he refuses to speak with us.

Black responded:

No thanks, you have shown me what a terrible person you are. Karma is coming!!

The most recent Elijah Hadley incident prompting the most recent public outrage has a growing chorus across a diverse range of community members from Mescalero Apache, to LULAC leadership and everyday citizens demanding justice concerning officer involved shooting of Elijah Hadley. Blacks lack of comment is feeding fuel to the fire.

A June, a welfare check was done by an Otero County deputy on a 17-year-old. He was then shot and killed. A month later the deputy's name has not been released, no answers have been given concerning the incident and the New Mexico State Police nor the 12th Judicial District have released further information on the investigation.

A video was released via an information request to KOAT. The news report shows that on June 25, 2024 after 11 p.m., an Otero County sheriff's deputy responded to a welfare check on 17-year-old Elijah Hadley.

The deputy can be heard trying to ask Hadley what he is doing on Highway 70. As Hadley approaches the deputy, he is asked to show his hands. At that moment, the 17-year-old threw to the side what looked to be a gun, later found to be an airsoft pistol.

The deputy then shot Hadley four times. Hadley collapses to the ground. The unnamed deputy informs OCSO he's unharmed and shots were fired.

As the deputy waits for backup, he can be heard telling Hadley not to move in the video released by KOAT News.

The 17-year-old has been on the ground for more than three minutes — until shots are fired again. Hadley was then shot more than 15 timesas he lay on the ground injured. Five minutes pass and the deputy can be heard breathing heavily, still waiting for deputies to arrive. When the Otero County deputies arrive by 11:23 p.m. to offer aid it was too late for the teen. The deputy checked Hadley's body for a pulse to find none as per the video release.

As the protest continues a petition has now been filed online and has over 236 signatures since being posted on August 10th, calling for the resignation of Sheriff Black or face a possible recall.

The petition was filed by Spencet Bond who we are reaching out to for comment. The petition is linked below.

https://www.change.org/p/remove-otero-county-sheriff-david-black-from-o…

According to the petition,

"When the New Mexico State Police first released information regarding the event, they claimed Elijah Hadley "presented... a firearm, at the deputy." The deputy responded by firing "at least one shot" at Elijah, killing him.

Footage was later released that revealed Elijah threw the weapon to the ground before he was shot 4 times by the deputy. The deputy did not secure the "firearm" or administer first aid. Instead, he waited over three minutes before shooting Elijah 15 more times as he lay on the ground.

The Otero County Sheriff, David Black, has not spoken on the event or fired the deputy involved. It has been almost two months without any leadership displayed from Sheriff Black whatsoever.

As such, we are demanding that Sheriff Black step down by September 10, 2024. If he chooses not to, we will be forced to recall him.

Elijah Hadley's family, friends, tribal members, and fellow citizens deserve better leadership than what Sheriff Black has displayed. If Sheriff Black stays in office, it shows that we, the people, accept that our government is allowed to brutally murder the citizens it is meant to serve with zero repercussions.

Justice for Elijah Hadley will come in many forms. The removal of a Sheriff who protects a child murderer is but one of them.

An interview with Pastor Jerry Martinez after one of the marches and the County Commission meeting by AlamogordoTownNews.org's Anthony Lucero on streaming KALHRadio.org can be heard below...

https://youtu.be/YOODhE5GMe0?si=v4Md09EDchrwqXqZ