Police: Men let child abuse suspect out of car
Two 19-year-old parents were arrested on child abuse charges last week following a fight at a Las Vegas apartment complex, and later, two more men were arrested after one of the parents was allegedly let out of a police car by civilians.
Roman Sandoval and Alycia Lucero were booked into the San Miguel County Detention Center on felony abuse of a child charges after police were called to the couple’s residence around 2 a.m. on Sept. 13. Las Vegas police had initially been called to the residence in the 500 block of Mountain View Drive for a domestic disturbance.
Sandoval told police he’d had a few friends over, and admitted they’d gotten drunk and started fighting. According to a statement of probable cause, an officer smelled alcohol on Sandoval’s breath.
Lucero, who was carrying her 1-year-old son when she spoke to police, told officers she’d been drinking with a group of friends at the apartment and that some of them started fighting. Police smelled alcohol on Lucero’s breath as well.
When an officer entered the apartment, he saw blood on the floor and walls, and several broken beer bottles on the living room floor, creating what he described in court documents as “a dangerous environment” for the child. Both Sandoval and Lucero were arrested; a relative came to care for the child.
Lucero was transported to Alta Vista Regional Hospital for a medical clearance, and Sandoval was placed in the back of a police car while the officer returned to the apartment to complete his investigation.
The officer returned to his patrol car to find the door open and Sandoval missing. Two men — Craig Arguello, 25 and Jordan Romero, 23 — were located near the police car. Police arrested Arguello and Romero for aiding in Sandoval’s escape from custody.
Sandoval was later found in an alley, and according to police, Sandoval kicked an officer while they were attempting to place him in the back of a different police vehicle.
Arguello and Romero were both charged with assisting escape and conspiracy. Both have been released on bonds and are due in court Sept. 27.
Lucero was charged with felony abuse of a child. She was later released on house arrest and is scheduled to appear in court again on Sept. 25.
Sandoval was charged with felony abuse of a child, felony escape from the custody of a peace officer, felony battery upon a peace officer and misdemeanor fleeing, evading or obstructing an officer. He was granted a $40,000 bond, but remains in custody at SMCDC as of this writing. His next scheduled court date is Sept. 25.
