ABC-7 obtains video of Dona Ana County Sheriff’s jail takeover
ABC-7’s New Mexico Mobile Newsroom obtained surveillance video of the day Dona Ana County Sheriff’s deputies took over the Dona Ana County Detention Center. The move came after a white collar crime task force arrested Jail Director Chris Barela on multiple felony charges last week.
In the video, you can see a couple of sheriff’s units drive up to the back of the jail at around 8:30 a.m. At least a dozen unarmed deputies, some wearing tactical gear, stand outside. About an hour later, they enter the jail in an orderly fashion.
The sheriff’s takeover abruptly came to an end that day when County Manager Julia Brown handed Sheriff Kiki Vigil a temporary restraining order during a news conference.
On Friday, the sheriff and county officials are expected to attend a hearing that will decide whether or not a judge will issue a permanent injunction.