A homeless man was arrested after he allegedly threatened to hit officers with his guitar and pushed officers with it. Ruben Escobeda, 69, of Hobbs, was arrested on Aug. 19 and charged with battery upon a peace officer, a fourth-degree felony; resisting evading or obstructing an officer and concealing identity, both misdemeanors. On Aug. 19, officers with the Hobbs Police …

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A felon from California has been charged with opening fire on Albuquerque police officers, severely wounding one officer and injuring three others after they responded to a robbery. Officer Mario Verbeck remained in critical condition Friday after being shot in the neck just above his bulletproof vest. Officer James Eichel is recovering from a gunshot wound …

An arrest has been made by the Lea County Sheriff’s Department in a north Hobbs murder that took place on July 17. Steven Nave, 39, of Lovington, was arrested on Aug. 12 and charged with first-degree murder, a capital felony; tampering with evidence, receipt, transportation or possession of a firearm or destructive device by certain persons (felon) and bribery of …

Lea County Sheriff ’s deputies arrested a Hobbs man for warrants charging him with larceny after he allegedly gained access into a “laydown yard” on Marathon Road and stole approximately 900 feet of copper wire valued at approximately $6,300. Shad Wheeler, 47, was arrested on July 28 and charged with larceny over $2,500 under $20,000, a third-degree felony. According to …

Lea County Sheriffs Office deputies, with the assistance of the U.S. Marshal’s Office arrested a Lovington man on warrants after he allegedly got into several altercations with a family member, the most recent resulting in that family member being chased in his vehicle by the offender with a gun. Joel Perez, 40, of Lovington, was arrested on Tuesday and charged …

LEVELLAND, Texas (AP) — Authorities captured the suspect late Thursday following an hourslong police standoff where one officer was killed and four others were wounded in a small West Texas city. Omar Soto-Chavira, 22, was injured when he was taken into custody around 11:30 p.m. at a home in Levelland, police Chief Albert Garcia told reporters. The suspect was being …

Hobbs Police Department officers arrested a Hobbs man on burglary charges after he allegedly broke into a home while a child was present. Mario Aranda, 55, of Hobbs, was arrested on June 22 and charged with burglary of a dwelling, a third-degree felony; criminal damage to property and fugitive from justice, both fourth-degree felonies. Hobbs Police Department officers responded to …

Multiple vehicle thefts led to the chase of a Hobbs man across county lines after he allegedly stole two vehicles, as well as a gun, weapons and hunting gear. Jeffrey Hill, 25, of Hobbs, was arrested on June 3 and charged with unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, a second-degree felony; aggravated burglary, a second-degree felony; burglary of a dwelling, …

Two residents of Hobbs and Lovington were arrested after allegedly assaulting a man with a knife and stealing his vehicle. Joseph Olivos, 38, of Hobbs, was arrested on June 16 and charged with accessory and aggravated assault, both fourth-degree felonies. Amber Orona, 35, of Lovington, was also arrested on June 16 and charged with unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, …

Lea County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a Hobbs man on warrants and drug charges after allegedly observing his vehicle driving near a residence with “high foot and vehicle traffic consistent with narcotics sells and purchases.” Stephen Rodriguez, 36, of Hobbs, was arrested on June 13 and charged with possession of a schedule 1, 2, 3, or 4 class drug, a fourth-degree …