Bridging the communication gap Steps to get case updates with HPD Christina Holt/News-Sun Filing a police report with the Hobbs Police Department can be perceived as a challenging and often frustrating process for some, leading them to question whether it’s worth the time. Investigations take time and getting updates can be complicated, especially since the department is facing staffing shortages. …

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 …

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 …

Gabrielle Arsiaga/News-Sun Seth Alvarado, 29, of Hobbs, was arrested for the 16th time on felony burglary charges — the latest after he allegedly broke into a woman’s car and stole several items. It was also Alvarado’s 22nd burglary charge since 2017. Alvarado was arrested May 13 and charged with burglary of a vehicle, a fourth-degree felony. His first burglary charge came …

Gabrielle Arsiaga/News-Sun In the last few weeks, Hobbs Police Department Chief August Fons said there has been a dramatic decrease in the number of auto burglaries. According to police call logs, HPD’s calls for auto burglaries decreased to only one to two incidents per day, whereas before they were averaging two to four calls a day. Fons attributes the decrease …

HPD reports increase in crime for 2022 Gabrielle Arsiaga/News-Sun The City of Hobbs has seen an exponential increase in shootings from 2021, Hobbs Police Chief August Fons said during Monday night’s city commission meeting. Fons provided commissioners with the annual fiscal year 2022-2023 report for HPD containing annual crime statistics from 2021 and 2022. According to Fons, statistically in 2022, …

Gabrielle Arsiaga/News-Sun A traffic stop lead to a drug seizure when Hobbs woman was found with close to $3,000 worth of methamphetamine. Ashely Higdon, 31, of Hobbs, was arrested on July 8 and was charged with trafficking a controlled substance, a second-degree felony; and possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor. Around 2 a.m. July 8, HPD officers saw a vehicle …

For the News-Sun ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced that Jose Angel Baeza was sentenced on June 2 to 15 years in prison. Baeza, 39, of Lovington pleaded guilty on Sept. 17, 2021, to attempted murder of a federal officer, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and …

Gabrielle Arsiaga/News-Sun A Hobbs man was arrested after allegedly stealing a pair of shoes and a cellphone from a kid and then threatening to shoot him. Johnny Thompson, 18, of Hobbs, was arrested on May 23 and charged with robbery, a third-degree felony. On April 18, Hobbs Police Department officers were dispatched to the area of North Fowler Street and …

Blake Ovard/News-Sun When demolition crews go to work in a building, they never know what might be lurking inside, out of sight. One of the last things they usually expect to find inside a wall is a bag of narcotics. But that’s what one group of construction workers found when they were recently remodeling a building in Hobbs. The crew …