From the Las Vegas Optic The snowy evening of Jan. 18 ended in violence when 27-year-old Leroy Phillip Salazar was shot outside his home near Seventh Street and Mountain View Drive. By morning, Salazar was dead and a second man had been transported to a hospital in Albuquerque to be treated for injuries related to…
From the Las Vegas Optic Alta Vista Regional Hospital is seeking payment of more than $2.6 million from San Miguel County for health care services provided to incarcerated inmates at the San Miguel County Detention Center. The county denies it owes that amount, and asserts it shouldn’t be billed for inmates’ health care at all,…
From the Las Vegas Optic A man charged with committing violent robberies is receiving court-ordered treatment for addiction while his girlfriend, who is also charged in a number of robberies, has been arrested again. Brian J. Sandoval, 19, and Adamina R. Esquibel, 20, who were both arrested in October, have since been released from jail…
From the Las Vegas Optic Editor’s note: The following is part four of a series exploring the role street gangs, prison gangs and organized crime play in violence, drug trafficking and addiction within Las Vegas and its surrounding communities. The summer of 2019 was a violent one in Las Vegas. By early August, four people…
From the Las Vegas Optic By Phil Scherer and Ryan Lowery Local school districts remain unsure whether they will return to the classroom in early February, following Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s announcement Tuesday that districts would have the option to return to the classroom during her annual State of the State address. Most schools have…
From the Las Vegas Optic Content Warning: This story contains descriptions of sexual abuse that may be triggering and upsetting for some readers. Discretion is advised. A former West Las Vegas Middle School security guard has been arrested and charged with 15 felony counts following a lengthy investigation by the New Mexico Office of the…
From the Las Vegas Optic One man was killed, one was injured and another is sought by police following a violent end to a holiday weekend in Las Vegas. Las Vegas police have confirmed to the Optic that 27-year-old Leroy Salazar was shot and killed Monday evening on Collins Drive, on the city’s north west…
From the Las Vegas Optic A woman accused of trying to sneak drugs to a murder suspect inside the San Miguel County Detention Center has again been jailed for violating the terms of her release. Skye A. Sedillo, 22, of Las Vegas, was arrested Jan. 8 and booked into the San Miguel County Detention Center…
From the Las Vegas Optic For the second year in a row, the San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office and the West Las Vegas School District teamed up to distribute meals and gifts to area families for the Annual Thanksgiving and Christmas Food and Gift Drive. With the help of generous donations from the community, event…
From the Las Vegas Optic Editor’s note: The following is part three of a series exploring the role street gangs, prison gangs and organized crime play in violence, drug trafficking and addiction within Las Vegas and its surrounding communities. Agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency arrived in Las Vegas on Aug. 13, 2019, although…
