1. Socorro County Sheriff blotter in El Defensor Chieftain
2. Socorro Sheriff blotter update in El Defensor Chieftain.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
A resident of Socorro recently reported threats from a co-worker to the Sheriff’s department on April 23. The victim had conducted an audit that unveiled $10,000 missing from their workplace, which they promptly reported to their employer. Allegedly, Christian Lee Burton was found responsible for the missing funds and subsequently fired by the employer. The victim informed officers that Burton had threatened to harm them and their family, expressing concerns that he might follow through on his threats.
FRAUD
Deputies were approached by an individual regarding a potential scam at 2:36 p.m. on May 6. The victim disclosed that they had been searching for a property for sale in Belen and had contacted a seller named Janet Sodomlak. After making a payment of $550 via Paypal, the victim never received any further communication from the seller. Upon contacting the county assessor’s office, it was revealed that the residence was registered under a different name, leading the victim to suspect they had fallen victim to a scam.
BREAKING AND ENTERING
Zachery Owen, aged 19, was apprehended on charges of breaking and entering at 8:21 p.m. on May 6. Deputies responded to reports of a break-in at Sheriff Lee Armijo’s father’s home in Socorro. Upon arrival, Owen was identified, detained, and the premises were secured. The residence showed signs of disturbance, with items strewn about, shelves left open, and a damaged door and frame. The victim, upon returning to the property, encountered Owen exiting the back door and promptly contacted Sheriff Armijo. Owen claimed to have entered the house to check on it after seeing two other individuals inside. He was subsequently arrested and taken to the Socorro County Detention Center.
BATTERY
Zacary Eugene Werder, aged 36, faced charges of aggravated battery against a household member and interference with communications following an incident reported at 10:58 a.m. on May 9 in Veguita. Deputies responded to a domestic disturbance call from a female caller and were informed that the suspect had left the scene on foot. The victim recounted an argument escalating into a physical altercation, with corroborating evidence observed by the officers. The victim reported that Werder had forcibly removed a phone from her hand, leading her to believe he had left with a firearm. A protection order was obtained, and an arrest warrant was issued for Werder. Later that day, Werder returned to the property, threatening to shoot deputies, leading to his arrest.
LARCENY
Deputies were summoned to an incident of larceny in Veguita at 4 p.m. on May 8. A trailer from a work site approximately four miles north of Highway 60 had been reported stolen, last seen on May 6. Drag marks were visible where the trailer had been parked, prompting the entry of the trailer as stolen in the NCIC database.
WATER DAMAGE
A Socorro resident lodged a complaint about water overflow from a neighbour damaging their property at 10:09 a.m. on May 8. Deputies noted damage around the horse corrals and advised the resident to report the overflow to the Rio Grande Conservancy to address the issue effectively.
PUBLIC CONCERN
Responding to a call regarding an individual lying in the roadway on San Lorenzo Road and New Mexico Highway 304 in Veguita at 3:59 p.m. on May 12, deputies encountered a person with severe alcohol-related issues. Family members shared concerns about the individual’s behaviour, leading to the arrest of Larry Page, aged 71, for public nuisance due to his inability to care for himself.
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1. Socorro Sheriff blotter reports
2. El Defensor Chieftain news.
