Former Tucumcari police officer faces felony charges in arson fires

link Dustin Lopez (left), Robert Sandoval and Dani Martinez

QCS Senior Writer

Recently resigned Tucumcari Police Officer Dustin "Dusty" Lopez was charged Tuesday with arson and conspiracy to commit arson in Quay County Magistrate Court, according to nmcourts.gov.

New Mexico State Police Investigation Bureau Officer Chester Bobbit filed the charges with Quay County Magistrate Judge Joel Garnett.

Lopez had been the target of a state police investigation in a series of arson fires in the city during September, according to court records.

Lopez resigned Oct. 2, the day after New Mexico State Police searched his home.

Lopez did not give a reason for his decision to resign, said Tucumcari Police Chief Jason Braziel.

Braziel said Lopez was not placed on administrative leave and he was not asked or forced to resign. He said Lopez’s decision to leave the department was his own. Lopez turned in his badge and duty vehicle and is no longer a member of the department, said Braziel.

Investigators seized Lopez's cell phone while executing the search warrant, according to court records.

According to an affidavit filed in Quay County Magistrate Court:

State police received information there was evidence on Lopez’s cell phone connecting him and four others with a series of arson fires set in Tucumcari in September.

Investigators said they were told there were pictures of a building burning that they believed to be the Tucumcari Inn.

There were also collaborating statements from additional witnesses implicating Lopez in arsons that occurred in the city.

The four others are implicated as well.

Charged with Lopez were Dani J. Martinez and Robert Sandoval, both of Tucumcari. All three are being held at the Quay County Detention Center, jail officials said.

Both Martinez and Sandoval are also facing felony charges of arson and conspiracy to commit arson.