Alamogordo NM
9-02-2025 6:10pm

Alamogordo Police Department Issues a Statement Concerning Fridays APS Football Game

The Alamogordo Tigers Football game on Friday, August 29th, 2025 was to be a celebratory event with the inauguration of the brand new stadium turf. The game ended with a celebratory victory of 27 to 13 over the Roswell Coyates.

The Tigers were the underdogs going into the game. Roswell High School was the 2024 Class 5A State Football Champions!

However, the Tigers proved they are contenders in 2025. The pathway to victory for the Tigers -27 over the Coyotes-13 was a bumpy road with multiple distractions, which makes the victory by the Tigers all the sweeter. The distractions included lightning delays, police activity due to a fight outside the stadium and then an evacuation order for spectators in the stands due to a "theat."

The game resumed but without spectators and with players parents concerned but in the dark as to what was occurring.

This evening the Alamogordo Police Department issued the following statement...

"The Alamogordo Police Department understands the concern surrounding the events that led to the evacuation of last Friday’s Varsity Tiger Football game. The safety of our students, families, and community is always our top priority, and we want to provide clarity.

At approximately 9:20 p.m., officers responded to several disturbances at the game. During these incidents, a 14-year-old female was arrested for Battery Upon a Peace Officer and Resisting or Obstructing an Officer. A 15-year-old female was referred to JPPO for Public Affray and Resisting or Obstructing an Officer.

Following these events, officers became aware of potential threats connected to the altercations. These threats are currently under investigation. Out of an abundance of caution, Alamogordo Public Schools made the proactive decision to clear the stadium to ensure the safety of everyone in attendance.

We recognize the stress and disappointment this caused for students, families, and fans, and we deeply appreciate the community’s understanding and cooperation. Our officers remain committed to working closely with Alamogordo Public Schools and the community to maintain a safe and supportive environment for all."

This statement follows an earlier release from the APS School Superintendent. That release is as follows:

"Due to disruptive student behavior and an unconfirmed threat, district leaders, working in partnership with law enforcement, security, and administrators, made the proactive decision to clear the stadium of the general public. Only staff, athletes, and police remained, ensuring the game could continue safely

“Our first responsibility is always the safety of students, families, and staff,” said Superintendent Michael Crabtree. “When faced with a situation that presented risk and disruption, we acted immediately and decisively.

The decision to clear the stadium was not easy, but it was the right one. This proactive step prevented further escalation, protected our community and allowed the athletes to continue competing without suffering for the poor choices of a few students.”

APS emphasized that the response was a coordinated and professional effort between the Alamogordo Police Department, Otero County Sheriff’s Office, New Mexico State Police, district security personnel, school leadership teams, and Roswell ISD.

“We are grateful to our officers, our security team, and our district leadership and our partners from Roswell ISD who worked together to restore calm quickly and respectfully,” Crabtree added. “We also thank the families and students who cooperated with the process; their patience and understanding allowed us to focus on safety and keep the game moving for our athletes.”

The district stressed that while the majority of students were respectful, the disruptive behavior of a few students will be addressed under the district’s code of conduct. Moving forward, APS will:

• Continue to work closely with local law enforcement for coordinated event safety.

• Increase communication of expectations with students and families attending extracurricular events.

• Review and update student event expectations.

• Continue providing visible security and administrative presence at high-attendance athletic events.

“Tiger Stadium should always be a place where our community can come together with pride,” Crabtree said. “We stand by our decision, and we will continue to take every step necessary to provide a safe, supportive environment for our athletes, students, and families.”

Note and comment:

AlamogordoTownNews.org appreciates a response from the leaders of both APS and the APD this afternoon in response to public concerns. We will be posting a separate commentary later in the week concerning the events that transpired, the reactions of parents, students and leaders and the reaction of those in the political establishment.

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