From the Las Vegas Optic Sixteen-year-old Adelina Tafoya was killed by a gunshot to the head July 6 because she and her teen passengers were mistaken for drug dealers, according to affidavits filed in San Miguel Magistrate Court. Nico L. Barela, 30, was arrested Friday by New Mexico State Police and charged with an open…
From the Las Vegas Optic A San Miguel County man wanted for firing at police officers turned himself in Wednesday, according to New Mexico State Police. Marcos F. Aragon, 30, was booked into the San Miguel County Detention Center Wednesday afternoon after being charged with three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on…
From the Las Vegas Optic The white SUV was hundreds of feet off the road, obscured by brush. Police speculated that 30-year-old Henry T. Duran had been behind the wheel of the abandoned vehicle found on March 19, 2017, two weeks after he’d been reported missing. However, a search of the area turned up no…
From the Las Vegas Optic Adelina Tafoya liked to sing and had even recorded a song in a studio. She also liked to make short videos and post them to the popular social media app TikTok. For Briana Saiz, her sister, Tafoya was someone she could always count on for a laugh. “My sister was…
From the Las Vegas Optic A shooting late Monday night killed a 16-year-old girl and sent two other teens to the hospital with gunshot wounds. Adelina Tafoya, 16, of Las Vegas died as a result of injuries from a gunshot, according to New Mexico State Police. Two other teens — a 16-year-old girl and a…
From the Las Vegas Optic A shooting late Monday night killed a young girl and sent two other juveniles to the hospital with gunshot wounds, according to New Mexico State Police. Around 11:45 p.m. Monday, State Police responded to an area near the entrance of Storrie Lake State Park on NM State Road 518 after…
From the Las Vegas Optic Las Vegas will soon have a new chief of police, Mayor Louie Trujillo confirmed this week. Current Chief of Police David Bibb has been notified of the change in command, but has agreed to remain in the role until his replacement takes over. “I’d like to thank Mr. Bibb for…
From the Las Vegas Optic A shootout between four men resulted in a man in a nearby home being treated for a gunshot wound and a father and son facing multiple felonies. Robert Saiz Sr., 48, was arrested May 26 and booked into the San Miguel County Detention Center. A warrant for the arrest of…
From the Las Vegas Optic The horrific smell coming from the structure was obvious, even from the outskirts of the property. Trash, furniture and other debris cluttered the lawn and prompted someone living in the west side neighborhood to contact the city about the mess. Two enforcement service specialists — city employees who assist with…
From the Las Vegas Optic A brawl between two groups at a Valentine’s Day dance ended in misdemeanor charges for five people, including a New Mexico deputy sheriff. San Miguel County Undersheriff Mike Padilla, whose name is listed as Albert Michael Padilla in court records, has been charged with misdemeanor aggravated battery. Four others, including…
