Two Men Arrested In Las Cruces Burglary

LAS CRUCES — A woman hid under her bed and talked to a 911 dispatcher as two men rummaged through her home Sunday morning, police reported in a news release.

Matthew Thomas Malone, 23, of the 2400 block of La Fonda Drive, and Curtis Garner Jr., 23, of the 600 block of Colorado Avenue, were still inside the home on E.Court Avenue when police officers arrived at around 6:30 a.m., according to the release.

The homeowner, a 77-year-old woman, told police she awoke at around 6:15 a.m. and noticed a light in her home was on. After a few minutes she began hearing noises and realized that someone was in her home. The woman called 911 and hid under her bed while relaying information to the dispatcher. Officers arrived, entered the home, and caught Malone and Garner in the act of burglarizing the woman’s home, the news release said.

Las Cruces police officers then helped the homeowner from underneath her bed. The woman was physically unharmed.

Malone was charged with one count each of residential burglary, concealing identification and for possession of drug paraphernalia. Malone also was charged with outstanding warrants from New Mexico and California. Garner was charged with one count of aggravated residential burglary after he armed himself with a knife after entering the home.

Malone is being held at the Dona Ana County Detention Center with no bond. Garner’s bond was set at $25,000.