Police Arrest Seven In Rock-Throwing Incident
LAS CRUCES – Police arrested two adults and five juveniles Wednesday evening after the group threw rocks from a pickup, officers reported in a news release.
One ofthe rockssmashed through a car and struck a 10-year-old boy in the head, police said.
Bocephus J. Hayes, 18, of the 5100 block of Wildflower Rd. and Robert Rincon, 19, of the 200 block of Turquoise Loop, were arrested on two felony counts each of aggravated battery, two counts each of conspiracy and five counts each of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Hayes also faces one count of aggravated fleeing from an officer for his part in leading officers on a vehicle pursuit through town.
The juveniles arrested were Christopher Ray Scanlon, 15, Gabriel Hernandez, 17, John Wesley Kelly, 16, Michael Joseph Grubbs, 15, and Phylicia Manning, 17. All face charges of aggravated battery, two counts each of conspiracy to commit aggravated battery, and two counts each of committing aggravated criminal damage to property.
Police learned that the group loaded rocks and bricks into the bed of the pickup Hayes was driving and then drove around town throwing the material at other people’s personal property.
At around 8:30 p.m. on Dona Ana Road, one of the rocks thrown from the truck went through a window of another vehicle and struck the youngster.Officers were alerted to the incident and Hayes then led officers on a chase from I-25 to north Main Street and toward Amador Avenue. Police finally stopped the vehicle on far west Amador. All seven suspects were arrested there.
The boy who was struck by the rock received medical attention for bruising and cuts to his head. His condition was not releaed on Monday.
Hayes and Rincon werebooked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center. Bond for Hayes was set at $50,000. Rincon was being held on a $55,000 bond. The juveniles were alldetained atthe Dona Ana County Juvenile Detention Facility.
