A Valenda County deputy fatally shot a man during
an arrest Monday.
TOME, NM - 11/12/01

The deputy caught a car thief on a power line utility
road east of Tome Hill just around 11:30 a.m.
When the deputy attempted to arrest the man,
identified only as a Hispanic male in his 20's, the
suspect put up a fight.

"He got into the deputy's unit and some shots were fired. 
 The deputy fired some shots and killed the individual
  that was inside the police car," said Lt. Gabe Romero of New Mexico State Police.

The body remained in the deputy's car throughout the afternoon as state police officers
investigated the crime scene. They say the dead man was armed and in control of the
car when the deputy opened fire.

A second deputy witnessed the shooting.

State police Investigators spent Monday afternoon combing the area for signs of tire
tracks, spent shells and bullet holes to try to piece together exactly what happened.

The unnamed deputy has been placed on administrative leave with pay. He has been
with the Valencia County Sheriffs Office for two years and also has prior police
experience.


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