Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Multiple law-enforcement agencies were involved in the apprehension last week of a wanted Tucumcari man who hid from police in a residence.
Michael Anthony Romero Jr., 30, was charged last week with burglary of a vehicle, criminal damage to the property of a household member, resisting, evading or obstructing an officer and larceny after his arrest the afternoon of March 28.
Tucumcari Police Sgt. Shaun Slate wrote in his complaint he was sent to the 1600 block of South Rock Island Street about Romero breaking vehicle windows there, then leaving in his mother’s SUV. The SUV later was spotted by a sheriff’s deputy in the 400 block of East High Street.
Romero saw one of the deputies, ducked into a backyard of a home and climbed onto its roof.
Tucumcari police obtained a search warrant at that location to find Romero, who was wanted on charges of battery against a household member, failure to comply with conditions of probation and failure to follow orders of the court while being on probation.
The Quay County Sheriff’s Office, New Mexico State Police, Quay County Adult Probation Office and the 10th District Attorney investigators assisted in executing the search warrant.
Romero was found in a crawl space beneath the floor in his upstairs bedroom.
When officers opened a crawl space door, Romero slid away from the opening to evade capture. However, Romero fell through a ceiling onto a bed, near where a deputy and Slate were standing.
“We both gave commands for Romero to turn around and show his hands,” Slate wrote.
Romero did not comply and moved towards the officers, the complaint stated. Another officer used a Taser on Romero to force him to comply, and he was arrested without further incident.
No attorney was listed for Romero, though a document stated a public defender would be appointed. He faces a preliminary examination in magistrate court on April 13.
