Albuquerque City

Officer under investigation, again

musiclover — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 14:14:22 +0000

An internal affairs investigation has resumed after a settlement in a lawsuit alleging that an Albuquerque police officer shot his wife and made it look like a suicide, said Albuquerque Police Chief Ray Schultz.

Officer Levi Chavez II called 911 in October 2007 to report his 26-year-old wife, Tera Chavez, had killed herself. She had a gunshot wound to the mouth from her husband’s service revolver.

Levi Chavez has not been charged with a crime. He remains on the Albuquerque Police Department payroll but works for animal welfare.

New Mexico Realtor Charged in $76 Million

musiclover — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 23:21:46 +0000

A New Mexico real estate broker was charged by a federal grand jury with running a Ponzi scheme that caused investor losses of more than $76 million, the Justice Department said.

Douglas F. Vaughan, 63, was accused of operating a promissory note program marketed as a way of investing in his real estate business from 2005 to 2010, according to today’s indictment in Albuquerque. About 600 investors had money in the program when the scheme collapsed last year, prosecutors said.

ABQ applies for disaster money

musiclover — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 23:16:10 +0000

The Albuquerque City Council unanimously passed a motion Wednesday night that lets Mayor R.J. Berry declare the arctic storm that hit Albuquerque earlier this month as a natural disaster.

This gives the city a chance to recoup some of the money it spent on repairing buildings damaged in the storm and overtime incurred.

Bicyclist hit by car in NE Albuquerque

musiclover — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 22:25:31 +0000

Magdalena Sharpe, KOB.com A bicyclist is in critical condition after he was hit by a car Wednesday morning in Northeast Albuquerque.

Police say the man was hit by a car around 6:10 a.m. Wednesday near Juan Tabo Boulevard and Mountain Road. The man was rushed to UNM Hospital where he was treated for a non-life threatening head injury.

He is currently listed in critical condition. Lanes of Juan Tabo Blvd in the area were temporarily closed during the morning commute but have since reopened.

New Details Emerge In Fight Over Gun At Garcia’s

musiclover — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 19:58:43 +0000

Police said the man who was eating lunch with a loaded gun on his belt on Sunday before a scuffle was about to head to the shooting range.

Jose Garcia was eating lunch at the Taylor Ranch Garica’s Restaurant when Christopher Torres announced that he was a federal agent attacked him, according to police.

A customer who tried to break up the fight said that Torres attacked him too.

“I blocked most of his punch, but he did get me a little bit,” said the customer. “He tackled me onto the table so I had red chile up my back.”

Prison Yoga Can Shorten Inmates’ Sentences

musiclover — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 21:57:46 +0000

Yoga, among classes offered at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Albuquerque, N.M., may soon be a thing of the past. Programs such as Tae Bo, t’ai chi, yoga and art therapy are offered to prisoners at the detention center and paid for with tax dollars. AOL News reported that deputy county manager of public safety More >

Red light camera queen at it again

musiclover — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 19:01:11 +0000

Albuquerque Police Department Traffic Sergeant Donovan Rivera said a 31 year-old woman is a menace behind the wheel.

Over the past two years Amber Gray has been nailed 69 times by the red light cameras, which come to about three times per month.

The red light cameras have nabbed Gray many times, but police said many of those situations were very dangerous including the incident on Carlisle Boulevard and Montgomery Boulevard, where a pedestrian crossing the street nearly lost her life.

Police union votes no confidence

musiclover — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 20:53:30 +0000

The union representing Albuquerque police officers has overwhelmingly approved a vote of no confidence for Chief Public Safety Officer Darren White.

KOB-TV says 84% approved the no-confidence resolution. The union says more than half of its 1,100 members voted.

Union President Joey Sigala says they are aware that despite the no confidence vote, White will not be fired. The union says the vote was to show general dissatisfaction with White’s management.

Albuquerque wants stolen statue back

musiclover — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 20:31:17 +0000

Albuquerque officials want whoever stole a giant fiberglass cactus to return it.

KOB-TV reports the art piece, worth $50,000, was stolen Monday night from behind a public library in northeast Albuquerque.

City officials say thieves probably unbolted the cactus from the ground and used a pickup truck or van to cart it off.

The city says the bright green fiberglass statue doesn’t weigh much and was likely easy to carry off into the night.

City Council Proposal Centers On Pigeon Droppings

musiclover — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 22:50:23 +0000

The Albuquerque City Council is considering a measure that would make it illegal to feed pigeons to cut down on droppings, but not everyone is on board.

City Council Member Brad Winter proposed the bill with the aim of reducing pigeon droppings. The city’s health department said the droppings are messy and potentially hazardous to residents’ health.

Right now, there is no ordinance about feeding pigeon, but city staff members said that needs to change because they get so many calls about pigeon droppings.