Southeast New Mexico Headlines - KWES NewsWest 9 / Midland, Odessa, Big Spring, TX: newswest9.com |
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We're learning new information about the Xcel Energy employee that was electrocuted in Carlsbad this past weekend. It turns out that he was a survivor of the Columbine shootings in 1999.
The heat is on and now one Lea County organization needs your help to cool things off. The United Way 211 is asking for the community to donate fans for families battling the summer heat.
A Carlsbad, New Mexico, man driving with a stab wound caused a crash on Sunday that knocked out power to parts of the city. 24-year-old Edward Olivas told authorities that he fell on his knife driving it two inches deep into his ribs.
An early morning accident in Hobbs killed one person and injured two others early Saturday morning. The two car collision happened west of the intersection of West Sanger Street and North Tasker Street.
Trying to smuggle drugs into a Hobbs prison landed one woman behind bars. Ramona Lucero was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of bringing contrabands into a correctional facility.
A six month investigation has landed a group of New Mexico people behind bars. Police say the six individuals went around robbing five different stores in New Mexico.
A New Mexico man lost his life in an industrial accident on Monday. We're told 23-year-old David Duran and his coworkers had just finished their work around 2:45 p.m. at an oil rig southeast of Carlsbad.
An argument between a Carlsbad couple went too far and ended with a stabbing. 36-year-old Theresa Bennett told police, she and her boyfriend, Brian Williams, had been arguing at a bar.
A Carlsbad woman is facing charges after using a Christmas holiday favorite as a weapon. 51-year-old Norma Moreno is accused of stabbing a wheelchair bound man in the eye with a plastic candy cane.
Federal agents shut down a pawn shop in Hobbs on Wednesday. That shop is being investigating for selling firearms illegally. According to the Hobbs News Sun, ATF agents were seen taking boxes of paperwork and guns out of HSC Gun and Ammo on West Marland.
An ex-con from Carlsbad will spend the next six and a half years in a federal prison for having a firearm. 29-year-old Basilio Flores pled guilty to the crime.
A Hobbs man was arrested for being a bad dad on Tuesday. Police pulled over William Mower late Tuesday night when they got a report that he was driving intoxicated with a child in the car and that the child was wearing no seatbelt.
A Hobbs, New Mexico, woman is behind bars after allegedly stealing a truck and nearly running a man down. 46-year-old Paula Long was slapped with felony charges of car theft and aggravated assault.
A Hobbs woman was arrested over the weekend for reportedly selling drugs. 37-year-old Jennifer Jones was arrested after security officers at the Black Gold Casino at Zia Park spotted her making deals in the parking lot.
The Eunice Fire Department is collecting various items for the victims of the Oklahoma tornado. They're asking for water, diapers, canned goods, clothing and monetary donations.
It just keeps getting worse for a Lovington man. He was already charged for stealing from his family. Now, he's accused of ripping off a church group.
A Hobbs man is behind bars on charges of raping a girl at a party earlier this month. 19-year-old Justin Ward is also accused of helping another man rape the same victim.
A Hobbs Smoker's Outlet is being shut down after they were caught selling synthetic drugs. The Smoker's Outlet on East Main in Hobbs was served a cease and desist order on Wednesday afternoon.
A Hobbs, New Mexico, mother had her children taken away from her on Mother's Day after officers say they found a despicable living situation.
A Carlsbad man remains behind bars for selling drugs out of his home. Joe Perez was arrested on Thursday and faces a number of charges including drug trafficking and resisting arrest.
A storage room was set on fire in Carlsbad to cover up a crime. According to the Carlsbad Current Argus, the blaze sparked up around 5:30 a.m. Wednesday morning at the electrical supply company of Carlsbad.
A Hobbs man is back behind bars after trying to make an escape from jail on Tuesday. We're told 29-year-old Billy Rodriguez Junior attacked an officer that was escorting him back to his cell.
Authorities in Roswell need your help to find a man who may have been involved with a woman that was set on fire. We're told 49-year-old Patrick Smith is a person of interest in the case.
A two-car crash in Eddy County led to some traffic delays over the weekend. The accident happened on Saturday around 9 p.m.
Authorities in Carlsbad are searching for a shooter that opened fire on a home early Tuesday morning. According to the Carlsbad Current Argus, the shooting happened in the 1000 block of North Main Street around 3 a.m.
A large amount of heroin is off the streets in Hobbs after a drug bust in Lea County. The Lea County Drug Task Force got a tip that Ismael Gonzales was trafficking a large amount of heroin around Hobbs.
Officials at the Carlsbad Caverns National Park say one of their pipelines needs to be replaced and soon. The pipeline stretches more than a mile and carries drinking water to the visitor center, employee housing and park offices.
Having sex with an underage girl put a Hobbs teen in jail. Police say they pulled over 19-year-old Ashton Edwards for running a stop sign last month. He had a 14-year-old girl with him.
City commissioners in Hobbs are giving officers incentives to attract and keep them on the job. The incentives will go to officers who are bilingual or who volunteer for their SWAT team.
One man is behind bars after officers responded to a stabbing call. Officials were called out to the 1300 block of East Clinton on Thursday morning around 9:45 a.m. When officers arrived, they found a 29-year-old male with a stab wound to the abdomen.
Salmonella cases have been reported in New Mexico. We know of seven cases so far and that includes people in Eddy and Lea Counties. The other counties are Curry, Luna, Otero and Taos County.
Two people from El Paso lost their lives in a rollover accident in Eddy County on Monday. The accident happened around 7:30 a.m. on U.S. 62/180.
Calling in fake bomb threats put a Hobbs teen in jail. Police say teen called 911 on Saturday afternoon, claiming there were explosives near the Humphrey House.
A $1 million bond has been set for a man in Hobbs accused of shooting and killing his girlfriend last week. 34-year-old Marshall Jackson has been charged with several crimes including murder.
A Hobbs woman is in trouble with the law after causing problems at the motor vehicle division office. We're 24-year-old Taja Hodge apparently cut in front of several people in line to get her driver's license.
One person is dead following an early morning shooting in Hobbs, New Mexico. Details are limited at this time but Hobbs Police tell NewsWest 9, the shooting happened in the 1800 block of East Snyder around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.
What began as a party ended up with a group of underaged drinkers in Carlsbad getting more than they were hoping for. It began when officers got a call around 11:30 p.m. Sunday night.
A Hobbs man was caught with more than 700 images of child pornography at his home. 50-year-old Gailard Barker is charged with 20 counts of sexual exploitation of children. Each count could earn him nine years in prison.
A family feud ended with a father throwing down a cop in Hobbs. Police say 49-year-old Velmond Hughes and his son were arguing over shooting a neighbor. When police arrived, Hughes pointed and started cussing at them.
The City of Hobbs wants to recruit more officers to their police force and now they're adding some pretty big reasons to take a second look. An incentive package was approved by the City Council this week.
The Lea County Sheriff's Department is investigating after a shooting that left a man dead near Hobbs. Last night, deputies were dispatched to a report of a shooting in the 3200 block of West Jones Road. When deputies arrived, they found a victim of a fatal gunshot wound.
A fatal wreck in Carlsbad took the life of one woman over the weekend. The accident happened Saturday around 3 p.m. on U.S. Highway 285 and Ferguson Road. Authorities say Aurora Alvarado was trying to cross over Highway 285 from Ferguson Road when her truck was hit by a car.
A convoy of stolen trucks and ATV's were stopped in their tracks in Lea County. It all started with a tip that two pickups were hauling stolen 4-wheelers and a dune buggy. But officers found more than that when they pulled them over.
New Mexico State Police tell NewsWest 9, agents with the Pecos Valley Drug Task Force traveled to the Motel 6 in Carlsbad, N.M. Agents were looks for 35-year-old Wesley Davis of Artesia, N.M., who had an outstanding felony narcotics warrant.
Crime scene tape was still blocking a back portion of a Motel 6 in Carlsbad on Monday evening. New Mexico State Police say the Pecos Valley Task Force was executing an arrest warrant around noon when a confrontation escalated to gunfire.
A Hobbs man remains behind bars on charges of beating another man with a metal pry bar. Police say 39-year-old Eric Lopez was going over to a friend's house to take her to the store when he saw the victim, Alex Rojas.
Authorities in Eddy County need your help to find a rapist. The attack happened earlier this month in Carlsbad in the 1800 block of Callaway Drive. The 22-year-old victim said a man she didn't know attacked her as she was going into her apartment.
After a long drought with no foreseeable end in sight, the city of Carlsbad, New Mexico, is taking action. Starting next month, residents will have to cut back on their water usage by following a watering schedule.
The Hobbs City Park has been chosen as the perfect spot for a new elementary school. It's all to help overcrowding. Schools officials are planning to meet with city officials in the coming weeks to discuss the idea.
A Carlsbad mother is furious after her three year old son was attacked by a bobcat. It happened on Monday at the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park.
A tasteless crime in Carlsbad. Police are looking for suspects who stole tires and a battery from the scene of a fatal crash. The crash happened on Wednesday morning at an irrigation canal, about half a mile south of Lea Street.
A former Lea County Sheriff's Deputy has been sentenced for first degree criminal sexual penetration of a minor child. We're told 62-year-old Danny Surratt was sentenced to 18 years behind bars on Wednesday morning.
A tragic accident took the life of a teen in Eddy County. Investigators say 16-year-old Trenton Ryan Vasquez was helping his parents at their business when it happened.
The Carlsbad Police Association is determined to get the mayor booted from office. You'll remember last week they sent a statement saying they have "no confidence" in Carlsbad, New Mexico, Mayor Dale Janway.
A strange scene at a mobile home fire in Hobbs. Police say 49-year-old Tracy Carpnter yelled at them and even pretended he had a gun when they showed up.
A Hobbs teenager was shot in the head and killed on Sunday. The Lea County Sheriff's Office was called out to a home in the 700 block of West Martin on Sunday afternoon for a shooting. When they got there, they found 19-year-old Michael Burns dead.
There's been a crack in the counterfeit money case in Hobbs. A man was caught red handed with some of that funny money. Police say 46-year-old Chalie Miles paid for gas with a fake $20 bill.
Police in Carlsbad, New Mexico, are not happy with their mayor and now they're asking for his resignation. The city's Police Officer Association sent out a press release on Monday morning stating they have "no confidence" in Mayor Dale Janway.
There seems to be a lot of fake money floating around Hobbs, New Mexico. Now authorities are on the hunt for the person passing out those bills.
A 21-year-old from New Mexico is accused of stabbing another woman in the chest. Priscilla Mesquita is charged with aggravated battery. Police say she stabbed a 32-year-old woman in Artesia on Monday during an argument.
A violent murder in Hobbs, New Mexico and police say a child saw it all. Police say 27-year-old Timmithy Stover gave his girlfriend meth right before a fight.
Authorities in Lea County were able to make a heroin bust at their prison over the weekend, all by monitoring phone calls. 44-year-old Yepa Emma is accused of trying to smuggle the drugs in to her boyfriend 34-year-old inmate Johan Neaman.
Eddy County sheriff's deputies are continuing to investigate the death of a Carlsbad man who was found on Friday. The body of 48-year-old Lester Howell was found at about 8:30 p.m. at an oilfield waste water disposal site just south of U.S. 285.
If you live in Lea or Eddy County, you may have seen more officers on the roads. Officials say they've added 24 officers to patrol both counties. It's all to drive down the number of wrecks involving commercial vehicles.
The City of Lovington is considering an ordinance that would ban synthetic drugs. City Commissioners got their first look at the ban at their meeting on Monday night.
A Hobbs man who was shot on Tuesday is expected to recover. Police got a call from the victim, 26-year-old Sammy Pinon, around 8 a.m. saying he had been shot.
Police are investigating after an early morning shooting in Hobbs. Hobbs Police tells NewsWest 9, they received several 911 calls in reference to shot being fired in the area of Pecos and Brazos.
A Hobbs teen who killed an elderly woman will have to wait to find out how long he'll spend in prison. Sentencing for 17-year-old Juan Rivas, Junior has been put off until March. His attorney asked for more time.
One man is behind bars accused of murder. Police arrested 32-year-old Woodrow Dunn, Junior after investigators say he shot 52-year-old David Rogers of Hobbs in the head. We're told Rogers was giving Dunn a ride from an oilfield site to Lovington.
There's a war on synthetic drugs in our communities. However, there are still some that don't quite understand the power of the illegal substance.
The body of a man found in the Pecos River has been identified. Carlsbad Police say it was 42-year-old Andres Romero from Taos, New Mexico.
A suspect escaped from police in Jal, New Mexico, but not before being tased and assaulting an officer. Police are looking for Jesse Armando Tapia.
A former Lea County deputy was will be heading to prison for molesting a family member. The guilty verdict came down this evening for 61-year-old Danny Surratt after jurors deliberated for six hours. He now faces 18 years behind bars.
A Hobbs couple led police on a wild chase early Friday morning. Officers were called out to an apartment complex after they heard a woman was breaking into cars and stealing items. Officers eventually spotted the suspect's vehicle and it turned into a high speed chase.
A Carlsbad man stumbled onto a disturbing sight on Tuesday after he found a body in the Pecos River. Police got the call around 4:30 p.m. They met with Mike Depler in the 1000 block of South Canal.
With tax season here, this story might make you question just who it is looking over your receipts. Last week, a Lovington tax preparer was arrested for fraud. According to a Lovington business, 70-year-old Millard Yancey spent 30 years preparing their taxes.
Hobbs is tweaking their ban against synthetic drugs. They're adding more chemicals to their forbidden list. That's because manufacturers are constantly changing the formulas to avoid their products being illegal.
There's a manhunt in Hobbs for a fugitive on the loose. They're looking for 32-year-old Arturo Jordan who is wanted for kidnapping. Police tell NewsWest 9 that Jordan is considered dangerous so don't approach him.
The City of Lovington is preparing to take the first step to build a new downtown plaza. The building for the plaza could start as soon as April.
If you enjoy gambling at Zia Park in Hobbs then we have some good news for you. A new hotel is on the way. Construction on the $26 million project is expected to begin later this year.
Texting and driving may have caused the wreck that killed a Hobbs man on Friday. We're told 23-year-old Rodney Rudy, Junior, was on West County Road, north of the Carlsbad Highway intersection, when he swerved into traffic hitting an 18-wheeler head on.
A standoff in one Hobbs neighborhood has come to a close. The standoff began on Tuesday morning around 11:30 a.m. Central Time near the 500 block of east White Street. We're told a man had barricaded himself in the home.
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