UPDATE: Police Arrest Man Suspected Of Firing At Officers
Las Cruces police arrested a man who they said fired multiple shots at three police officers after a burglary at a traffic stop Friday afternoon.
Jonathan “Piazo” Garcia, 20, was detained at about 2 a.m. Saturday.
Las Cruces police officials said the initial call went out around 12:30 p.m. Friday after a reported burglary on the 900 block of east Mountain Street. Police said Garcia and 16-year-old Thomas Brown entered a residence and took several items including television sets, electronic game consoles and jewelry.
Officers said neighbors saw the burglary in progress and confronted Garcia and Brown. Garcia pulled out a gun and forced the neighbors into the residence and threatened to kill them if they called police, according to a police report.
After the burglary, police said Garcia and Brown fled in a white pickup driven by 25-year-old Pedro Alvarez. LCPD officers spotted the vehicle stopped on a nearby street.
As the officers approached, the passenger stepped out of the truck and opened fire on one of the officers. The officer, who was not hit, could not return fire. Officers were able to take the driver of the truck into custody, but the shooter and another passenger ran off.
Three schools in the area were placed on lockdown while the search for the passenger and shooter continued. The students were later released after classes were excused for the day.
Garcia was charged with three counts of kidnapping, three counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer, one count of burglary, and one count of conspiracy. He is being held at the Dona Ana County Detention center on a $120,000 bond.
Brown fled from officers after Friday’s traffic stop and shooting. He was later located and arrested Friday evening and charged with one count of burglary and one count of conspiracy. He is being held without bond.
Alvarez is also charged with one count each of burglary and conspiracy. His bond is set at $10,000.
No Las Cruces police officers were injured during Friday’s incident.