Man arrested after threatening to kill his family
A Las Vegas man was charged with two felonies and multiple misdemeanors after threatening to kill himself and his family. Joseph L. Garcia, 58, was charged with two felony counts of false imprisonment, two misdemeanor counts of assault against a household member and misdemeanor aggravated battery against a household member.
New Mexico State Police was dispatched to Garcia’s home off El Llano Road the morning of Nov. 26 after dispatchers received a call around 9 a.m. about a man threatening to shoot himself. According to a statement of probable cause filed in San Miguel Magistrate Court, officers located Garcia on the back porch holding a handgun at the side of his hip.
Police say when officers asked Garcia to drop the gun, he shouted that he was going to kill himself. Garcia walked inside the residence but quickly returned to the porch. According to court filings, an officer warned Garcia to stay on the porch, but Garcia ignored the officer and attempted to go back inside.
An officer then fired a round from a “less-lethal shotgun,” striking Garcia in the arm. Garcia ran inside the residence but returned to the door to toss his firearm off the porch. He later surrendered to police. According to court documents, the incident began with an argument over Garcia not wanting his daughter’s boyfriend in the house.
Garcia’s wife told police Garcia pushed her, hit her and pinned her to a bed, not allowing her get up. Garcia then pulled out a handgun and threatened to kill his wife, his daughter and himself. At one point, Garcia held the gun to his head.
His daughter escaped through a window and his wife attempted to call police; however, Garcia took the phone from her and threw it onto the floor. He then placed the phone on the kitchen table and told her if she used it to call police, he would shoot both of them. Garcia’s wife told police when he saw officers arrive, he went outside and fired one round.
In addition to the false imprisonment, assault, and battery charges, Garcia was charged with misdemeanor interference with communications and misdemeanor negligent use of a deadly weapon for discharging a firearm near an inhabited building.
Garcia was granted a $20,000 cash only bond, but as of this writing, he is still in custody at the San Miguel County Detention Center. His next court appearance is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Dec. 11.
