A police captain in Arizona has been chosen as the next police chief of Hobbs. The City of Hobbs announced in a news release Wednesday that John Joseph Ortolano, a 21-year veteran employee of the Arizona Department of Public Safety, has accepted a conditional offer of employment to become the city’s 25th police chief. Acting City Manager Manny Gomez said …

A Hobbs resident reportedly tracked down an auto burglar Sunday night, leading to the arrest of the suspect on multiple auto burglary charges. Seth Alvarado, 25, of Hobbs, was arrested Sunday night and charged with three counts of auto burglary, all fourth-degree felonies, tampering with evidence, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, all misdemeanors. Hobbs police …

A murder suspect with a face full of tattoos apparently found it difficult blending into the crowd while on the lam last weekend. Police said Steven A. Salazar hid out in his cousin’s apartment complex southeast of Hobbs High School after allegedly shooting and killing a man in cold blood Thursday morning. After receiving numerous tips, Hobbs police and later …

Police were searching Thursday night for a man accused of shooting and killing a man Thursday morning on the southeast side of Hobbs. The suspect, Steven A. Salazar, of Hobbs, had been arrested by police earlier this month after he allegedly shot a different man four times. Salazar was also arrested on a drug charge earlier this month, when he …

A Hobbs teenager who was out of jail on bond after allegedly threatening to shoot a pregnant woman last month allegedly shot a man three times early Tuesday while robbing him of $40. Deaunte Meridyth, 19, was arrested on a warrant Thursday and charged with robbery and aggravated battery, both fourth-degree felonies, and resisting, evading, or obstructing an officer, a …

A Hobbs teenager charged with shooting at a vehicle early Sunday and striking a 15-year-old boy three times will be tried as an adult, the district attorney said Tuesday. Kevin Hernandez, 17, of Hobbs, was charged Sunday with shooting at or from a motor vehicle involving great bodily harm and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. According to police reports, …

A third alleged suspect wanted by Hobbs police since December after a string of porch burglaries has been arrested and charged with receiving stolen property valued at more than $20,000. Shawn Darwin Calapp, 34, of Hobbs, was arrested on the second-degree felony charge Wednesday after police searched his mother’s home in the 400 block of West Park Street late last …

Kelli McCall has several “honey-dos” ready. And her husband now has the time to do them. Chris McCall officially retired from the Hobbs Police Department on Thursday, ending a 20-plus year career, with the past 6 1/2 years as police chief. He was the 24th police chief in HPD’s 90-year history. The third-floor conference room of the City Hall Annex …

Earlier in his career with the Hobbs Police Department Chris McCall was in charge of the department’s Criminal Investigation Division. He had the unfortunate responsibility of working a tough case, but had the good fortune of doing so with Hobbs Fire Chief Manny Gomez. The experience is something Gomez always remembers when he thinks of McCall. “I remember just how …