FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Balderas Contact: James Hallinan, (505) 660-2216
D’Antonio Contact: Marylou Bonacci, (575) 915-5959
Las Cruces, NM – This afternoon, New Mexico Attorney General Balderas and Third Judicial District Attorney D’Antonio announced a Doña Ana County Grand Jury returned indictments of Aggravated Battery for Richard Garcia and Danny Salcido. Attorney General Balderas and District Attorney D’Antonio announced their offices would jointly prosecute former Las Cruces Police Department officers Garcia and Salcido for a holding cell incident that took place in late December 2014.
“I am committed to officer safety and citizen safety in New Mexico, but when an officer violates the public’s trust, they must be held accountable to the full extent of the law,” said Attorney General Balderas. “All New Mexicans are entitled to safety and equal treatment under the law.”
“Law enforcement officers are our first line of defense against crime, so it is imperative that they maintain the trust of the public. Any allegations of police misconduct will be fully investigated and prosecuted when a crime has been committed,” said District Attorney Mark D’Antonio. “This joint prosecution with the Office of Attorney General demonstrates our shared commitment to cooperative efforts in investigating and prosecuting cases critical to public safety in Doña Ana County.”
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