- STATE PATROL-SHOOTING
ALAMOGORDO, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico State Police have identified the officer who fatally shot a 22-year-old man during a traffic stop west of Alamogordo earlier this month.The state police identified the officer as Jantzen Duran. He has two years of experience with the state police and is stationed in Alamogordo.
Authorities say Duran stopped Benjamin Diaz on Nov. 1 for driving 106 mph in a 60 mph zone on US Highway 70. Authorities say he attacked the officer with a folding box cutter and tried to disarm him, prompting Duran to fire once at Diaz.
The officer was treated for stab wounds and released. Diaz died at El Paso University Medical Center.
Authorities say the car Diaz was driving was in the process of being reported stolen from Los Cruces.
- TV-N SCOTT MOMADAY
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Kiowa writer N. Scott Momaday, who won a Pulitzer Prize in 1969 for his groundbreaking novel “House Made of Dawn,” says he’s not done writing and is vowing to finish his long-anticipated memoir.In a rare interview with The Associated Press, the 85-year-old author says he’s excited about a new PBS documentary about his life. But he remains surprised other writers have said his work has influenced them.
Momaday says he’s proud to see so many new Native American writers have successful careers since the publication of his first novel. The Oklahoma-born Momaday, who lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, says he’s working on three new books.
The American Masters documentary series is set to air “N. Scott Momaday: Words from a Bear” on most PBS stations on Monday.
Russell Contreras is a member of The Associated Press’ race and ethnicity team. Follow him on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/russcontreras
- BOY CATCHES MASSIVE CATFISH
ELEPHANT BUTTE, N.M. (AP) — He caught a fish “this” big. No, really.A 9-year-old New Mexico boy landed a 42-pound (19-kilogram) blue catfish Sunday evening while fishing in the Elephant Butte Reservoir.
Kris Flores said his son, Alex, made the big catch by himself and shattered dad’s record of reeling in a 36-pound (16-kilogram) fish.
Flores says the fourth grader named the fish Wailord after the Pokeman character. The father says his son released the fish back into the reservoir after taking some photos and videos.
The biggest fish ever reportedly caught in Elephant Butte history was 78 pounds (35 kilograms).
This story corrects a previous version to say the boy named the fish Wailord after the Pokeman character, not Whale Lord.
- UNITED SOCCER STADIUM
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — State lawmakers have met with New Mexico United officials to talk about the possibility of building a new soccer stadium after concluding their first season.Team owner Peter Trevisani and Albuquerque’s Chief Operating Officer Lawrence Rael spoke with Economic and Rural Development Committee officials Thursday about a potential arena.
Trevisani says United needs room to grow after it led the league in merchandise sales and attendance with more than 12,600 people each game.
United officials say the team spent their first season playing in city-owned Isotopes Park, which was publicly financed over a decade ago.
Officials say the proposed stadium could cost about $100 million with participation of other government agencies.
United competes in the United Soccer League, the second-highest level behind Major League Soccer in the United States.
- BORDER PATROL SHOOTING
LUKEVILLE, Ariz. (AP) — The U.S. Border Patrol says an agent shot and wounded a Russian man suspected of crossing the border illegally in Arizona.The agency said Friday that the man was flown to a Phoenix hospital and is expected to survive.
The Border Patrol says the unidentified agent attempted to arrest the man Thursday just east of the border town Lukeville.
Authorities say a physical altercation followed and the agent shot the man. The agent was not seriously injured.
The Border Patrol has faced criticism over its use of force in the past, but the number of shootings has fallen over the past few years.
Earlier this month, an agent shot and killed a gunman who opened fire near Sunland Park, New Mexico.
- STATE SENATOR-DRUNKEN DRIVING
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A November trail date is being postponed for a New Mexico state senator charged with drunken driving in connection with a car crash.Court records on Friday showed that the trail date for Sen. Richard Martinez of Ojo Caliente is rescheduled for late December.
Martinez has pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated drunken driving and reckless driving.
The former magistrate and influential Democratic chairman of the Senate judiciary committee declined to discuss court proceedings as he attended legislative hearings this week.
Police say Martinez refused a breath test to determine his blood-alcohol level after slamming into the back of another vehicle at a stoplight in June in the community of Espanola. Police lapel video showed Martinez responding to officers with slurred speech.
Martinez is running for re-election in 2020.
- ASSISTANT US ATTORNEY
ROSWELL, N.M. (AP) — U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson has announced the appointment of an assistant U.S. attorney who will be a full-time prosecutor stationed permanently in Roswell.Anderson says the move will help his office serve southeastern New Mexico and enhance its partnerships with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies in the region.
Officials from the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, Drug Enforcement Administration and others joined Anderson in making the announcement Thursday at the offices of the Roswell Police Department.
The federal agencies routinely work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to investigate and prosecute a wide-variety of federal criminal activity.
- NEW MEXICO OUTSIDE
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The head of New Mexico’s new office of outdoor recreation says the potential for the Land of Enchantment to become the go-to place for outdoor enthusiasts is enormous.Axie Navas testified before a panel of state lawmakers Thursday. She said the industry already contributes billions of dollars to New Mexico’s coffers but there’s room to grow.
She and others pointed to western states that have been able to coordinate efforts to grow outdoor recreation through dedicated agencies.
Now that New Mexico has its own office, Navas says she’s focused on sharing with key industry players the well-kept secret of the state’s outdoor offerings — from world-class quail hunting to mountain biking flowy singletrack.
A regional official with the U.S. Forest Service told lawmakers it’s like the sleeping giant in the outdoor recreation world is awakening.