Special2bme
February 1st, 2009, 12:30 PM
Police are still investigating the Lower Cottonwood Canyon Road standoff that ended Saturday with one person dead and a woman being arrested, a New Mexico State Police spokesman said.
Sgt. Andrew Tingwall said the woman, whom police would not identify, was heavily armed and wearing a bulletproof vest. She was arrested and charged with assault with intent to commit a violent felony on a police officer.
"Additional charges may be filed against the woman," Tingwall said. "At approximately 2 a.m., SWAT officers made an approach of the residence behind a Doņa Ana County bomb robot. The approaching officers discovered that there was a male subject with a rifle lying deceased behind a vehicle."
Twelfth Judicial District Attorney Diana Martwick said an arraignment date for the woman has not been set at this time.
"At this time, we're not releasing the names until family members have been notified," Martwick said. "We will probably be releasing the names tomorrow (Sunday). At this time, we're uncertain as to the cause of the man's death."
Capt. Leon Ledbetter, of the Otero County Sheriff's Department, said Friday two deputies were injured by flying glass after a windshield was shot by someone firing a weapon from inside the home.
Martwick said she had no comment on the condition of the officers until she had all the information about the standoff.
She said an estimated 100 law enforcement officers were at the scene.
Tingwall said SWAT officers entered the house.
"The officers came into contact with the woman in the house," Tingwall said. "The female was wearing a ballistics vest and was unresponsive to officers. She would not show officers her hands."
He said officers decided to use the robot to grasp her ankle and pull her out of the house.
"Officers pulled her away from where she was lying face down," Tingwall said. "She had two pistols in her pockets and (was) lying on a shotgun. Police medical members rendered first aid to the woman. Tingwall said she was taken immediately to a hospital.
"Officers located two propane tanks they thought could possibly be an explosive device," he said. "Doņa Ana bomb technicians cleared the house."
"I do not know of any threat to blow up the home," Martwick said. "I am still in the process of getting all the police reports together."
Tingwall said the investigation continues, in conjunction with state police, the 12th Judicial District Attorney's Office, the Otero County Sheriff's Department, the Doņa Ana Sheriff's Department, the Las Cruces Police Department and the FBI.
Martwick said the FBI was called as routine procedure.
"There were suspected bombs, a lot of ammunition and explosive devices," she said.
"On Friday, at approximately 11:15 a.m.," Tingwall said, "a team of 15 Otero County Sheriff's officers went to serve an eviction notice at 127 Lower Cottonwood Canyon Road. Sheriff's officers announced their presence."
Tingwall said officers were met with gunfire as they approached the home.
"Officers returned fire for self protection," Tingwall said. "Only three officers returned fire. They contacted the Doņa Ana Sheriff's Department and Las Cruces SWAT teams."
Martwick said she hoped to have residents of the area back in their homes Saturday night.
She said sheriff's deputies knew one individual inside the home had a violent past.
"The reason why so many deputies were involved was because we have dealt with this individual in the past," Martwick said. "We felt it would be good to have additional help. I believe he was on trial for aggravated assault about two or three years ago."
http://www.alamogordonews.com/news/ci_11601547
Sgt. Andrew Tingwall said the woman, whom police would not identify, was heavily armed and wearing a bulletproof vest. She was arrested and charged with assault with intent to commit a violent felony on a police officer.
"Additional charges may be filed against the woman," Tingwall said. "At approximately 2 a.m., SWAT officers made an approach of the residence behind a Doņa Ana County bomb robot. The approaching officers discovered that there was a male subject with a rifle lying deceased behind a vehicle."
Twelfth Judicial District Attorney Diana Martwick said an arraignment date for the woman has not been set at this time.
"At this time, we're not releasing the names until family members have been notified," Martwick said. "We will probably be releasing the names tomorrow (Sunday). At this time, we're uncertain as to the cause of the man's death."
Capt. Leon Ledbetter, of the Otero County Sheriff's Department, said Friday two deputies were injured by flying glass after a windshield was shot by someone firing a weapon from inside the home.
Martwick said she had no comment on the condition of the officers until she had all the information about the standoff.
She said an estimated 100 law enforcement officers were at the scene.
Tingwall said SWAT officers entered the house.
"The officers came into contact with the woman in the house," Tingwall said. "The female was wearing a ballistics vest and was unresponsive to officers. She would not show officers her hands."
He said officers decided to use the robot to grasp her ankle and pull her out of the house.
"Officers pulled her away from where she was lying face down," Tingwall said. "She had two pistols in her pockets and (was) lying on a shotgun. Police medical members rendered first aid to the woman. Tingwall said she was taken immediately to a hospital.
"Officers located two propane tanks they thought could possibly be an explosive device," he said. "Doņa Ana bomb technicians cleared the house."
"I do not know of any threat to blow up the home," Martwick said. "I am still in the process of getting all the police reports together."
Tingwall said the investigation continues, in conjunction with state police, the 12th Judicial District Attorney's Office, the Otero County Sheriff's Department, the Doņa Ana Sheriff's Department, the Las Cruces Police Department and the FBI.
Martwick said the FBI was called as routine procedure.
"There were suspected bombs, a lot of ammunition and explosive devices," she said.
"On Friday, at approximately 11:15 a.m.," Tingwall said, "a team of 15 Otero County Sheriff's officers went to serve an eviction notice at 127 Lower Cottonwood Canyon Road. Sheriff's officers announced their presence."
Tingwall said officers were met with gunfire as they approached the home.
"Officers returned fire for self protection," Tingwall said. "Only three officers returned fire. They contacted the Doņa Ana Sheriff's Department and Las Cruces SWAT teams."
Martwick said she hoped to have residents of the area back in their homes Saturday night.
She said sheriff's deputies knew one individual inside the home had a violent past.
"The reason why so many deputies were involved was because we have dealt with this individual in the past," Martwick said. "We felt it would be good to have additional help. I believe he was on trial for aggravated assault about two or three years ago."
http://www.alamogordonews.com/news/ci_11601547