Man accused of throwing Molotov cocktail at neighbor’s vehicle

Police say an ongoing dispute between neighbors led to a man allegedly a throwing a Molotov cocktail at a vehicle Saturday evening.

40-year-old Manuel T. Chavez, of the 1400 block of north Mesquite Street, is charged with a fourth-degree felony count of possession of an explosive or incendiary device.

Detectives learned Chavez was not getting along with a couple in his neighborhood. Saturday evening, Chavez allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail in the direction of the couple’s vehicle as they drove by his residence.

The couple was not injured and their vehicle was not damaged, police said. Chavez told detectives he was only trying to scare the couple.

Detectives allegedly used a second, unused, Molotov cocktail on Chavez’s property. Police booked him into the Dona Ana County Detention Center where he is being held on a $1,000 bond.