Teens arrested for high speed chase and guns charges Caleb A. Gallegos/News-Sun Hobbs teens were arrested Saturday after leading Lea County Sheriff’s Office deputies on a high speed chase in a stolen vehicle reportedly going 111 mph, then allegedly disposing of a stolen gun later found and used by a 5-year-old child. A 15-year-old male was arrested July 6, and …

Fighting the odds Police chief: 150% increase in homicides in 2023 Caleb A. Gallegos/News-Sun Even though the Hobbs Police Department is dealing with a shortage of officers, HPD is still making strides in decreasing crimes — according to HPD Chief August Fons. On Feb. 5, Fons gave the 2023 annual Hobbs Police Department report to the city commission members at …

Texan attacks limo driver in Hobbs Andy Brosig/News-Sun A Texas man was arrested late Tuesday amid allegations he attacked a limousine driver who’d been hired to bring him to Hobbs to gamble and stole his vehicle. Rosario Portillo, 49, of Midland, Texas, was arrested and charged with unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony, and battery, a petty …

Who’s truck is it? Virginia Cunningham/News-Sun Jovii Session, of Carlsbad, had a hard time deciding who owned the truck he was taking things out of on July 19. Session first claimed the truck belonged to his brother “Jesse”, but then changed his mind and said the truck belonged to someone named “Tommy” in room 208, according to the police report. …

The following video was recorded by a Hobbs Police Department dash cam on March 25 after HPD received reports of a fight. As the officer exited his unit, the suspect accelerated again, towards the officer, according to police. The officer discharged at his department issued sidearm, striking the suspect who then stopped, exited, and was taken into custody. New Mexico …

Gabrielle Arsiaga/News-Sun A traffic stop that happened on Feb. 27 lead to a drug seizure of more than $2,000 when a 59-year-old Hobbs man was found with fentanyl, crack, and meth. Felix Rainey was arrested Feb. 27 and charged with trafficking a controlled substance, a second-degree felony; possession of methamphetamine and possession of a controlled substance, both fourth-degree felonies; and …

Gabrielle Arsiaga/News-Sun Many businesses, churches, and other buildings found themselves “tagged”last weekend. Hobbs Police and the Lea County Sheriff’s Office are working towards finding the vandals who are responsible for thousands of dollars worth of damages the weekend of Feb. 17-19. Around 6:48 a.m., Feb. 19, at St. Helena Catholic Church, at 100 East Bender Boulevard, a call came in …

Gabrielle Arsiaga/News-Sun The Hobbs man accused of murdering his 29-year-old ex-girlfriend and who fled to Mexico, is back in Lea County. Tony Guadalupe Navarrete, 36, of Hobbs, was charged in Nov. with the first-degree murder of  Vanessa Najera, of Hobbs. He was extradited from Cuidad Juarez, Mexico back to Lea County on Jan. 10.  Navarrete was scheduled for a preliminary …

Gabrielle Arsiaga News-Sun A Hobbs man will serve probation for stealing from two local businesses.  Keith Wayne Sanders, 27, of Hobbs pleaded guilty to fraud, a fourth-degree felony, on Dec. 8, for taking $3,600 from local businesses Lobo Nut and Bolt and Cavitt Land and Cattle, belonging to Wade Cavitt. He was sentenced to 18 months supervised probation and ordered …

Gabrielle Arsiage/News-Sun Hobbs police say a Hobbs man was found with almost $100,000 worth of stolen items after he allegedly stole a vehicle from the 1400 block of North Turner Street. Rogelio Cervantes, 37, of Hobbs, was arrested on Sept. 15 on a warrant for unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony. A second man was also arrested …