Greetings,
I would like to apologize for not having the week in review for the last two weeks. I was out of town on Friday 09/01/2023 and I was tied up on the search for a missing person last Friday. Although I do have Ms. Ludwig who formats and proofreads these posts, the information is compiled by me and sent to her for review and posting. I thank you for your understanding.
As always, thank you for your support. Chief James Harris
WEEK IN REVIEW 08/25/2023-09/15/2023
Robbery
On 08/28/2023, a male subject entered the Wells Fargo Bank wearing a baseball cap and a face mask. This male subject gave a note to the teller which demanded money. The male subject was given an amount of money exceeding $4,000.00 and fled the bank. Officers arrived at the bank and searched the area around the bank with negative results. The FBI was contacted and took over the investigation.
Recovered Stolen Vehicle/ Juvenile Arrest
On 09/10/2023, officers attempted to stop a stolen vehicle which fled Northbound on Highway 314. After a short pursuit, the officer disengaged and began to return to the city limit. The officer was advised that VCSO had reengaged in pursuit of the vehicle and the vehicle had broken down at the Dollar General in Los Lunas. Three juveniles were found hiding nearby. Belen Police Department charged the juveniles accordingly.
Vagrancy Arrest
On 09/14/2023 officers made contact with a female subject sleeping in the doorway of Our Lady of Belen Church. The officers advised this female, identified as Cela Hicks, that she would need to move from the area due to recent complaints. The subject became aggressive and belligerent with officers. Officers placed Ms. Hicks into custody in which she became physically combative. She was booked into VCDC for vagrancy and resisting an officer. This is the second incident with Ms. Hicks in the past two months.
Missing Person
On 09/06/2023, officers took a report of a missing person. Mr. Jack Williams was last seen at the Rio Communities Moose Lodge on Tuesday 09/05/2023 at around 10:30 PM. After not returning home, his wife went to his parents’ home to see if he was there. When she found that he was not there she called to report him missing. At approximately 7:00 pm, family members located Mr. Williams’s truck approximately 8 miles East of Rio Communities. A search of the area by VCSO Deputies and family and friends of Mr. Williams was conducted with negative findings. On Thursday Morning a full search and rescue mission was established and personnel from multiple agencies responded including Belen Police, Valencia County Sheriff’s Office, NM State Police, Fire departments from Valencia County, Belen and Rio Communities, and the New Mexico Search and Rescue team. This operation was conducted both Thursday and Friday. Late Friday Night after all viable clues were exhausted. The search was suspended. The Belen Police Department and the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office continues our joint operations and we are asking for the public’s help in finding any information that might assist in the locating of Mr. Williams
Traffic Enforcement
Safer New Mexico grant money has been obtained to pay for additional traffic enforcement initiatives. Several operations have been conducted and several more are planned. The area where these operations are planned is the area of North Main St (Hwy 314), I-25 Bypass and the surrounding area. Please be sure to slow down and drive safe.
| Statistics 8/25 – 9/15 | |||
| Calls for Service | 1,071 | Reports | 142 |
| Traffic Crashes | 13 | Recovered Stolen Vehicle | 4 |
| Stolen Vehicles | 2 | Commercial Burglary | 1 |
| Vehicle Burglary | 1 | Criminal Damage | 2 |
| Narcotics Cases | 5 | Trespassing | 3 |
| Arrests | 22 | Citations | 286 |
