Posted on 08/26/2005 1:17:42 PM PDT by Rio
A state parks officer fatally shot a man Tuesday night at Elephant Butte Lake State Park during a confrontation over the man's refusal to pay camping fees.
It was the first fatal shooting by an officer at one of New Mexico's 32 state parks in at least 30 years -- since the creation of a formal parks law-enforcement program -- Parks Director Dave Simon said. The New Mexico State Police are investigating the shooting.
The slain man was described as an Anglo in his mid-50s whose truck and trailer had Montana license plates. Police would not release other information until his next of kin were notified.
The officer, Clyde Woods, a three-year veteran of the parks force, is on paid administrative leave pending the conclusion of the investigation, Simon said.
A spokeswoman for the parks division, Erica Asmus-Otero, said the shooting was, "as far as we know, in self-defense."
"The officer was doing his job, what he was trained to do," she said.
State police Lt. Jimmy Glascock would not confirm that, saying the investigation continues. When completed, it will be forwarded to the 7th Judicial District Attorney's Office in Socorro for a decision on whether charges are warranted.
The confrontation began just after 8 p.m. Tuesday at Lion's Beach, a busy area near the lake's visitors center, after the man became belligerent with a parks volunteer over a $14 camping fee he refused to pay, Asmus-Otero said.
The volunteer called for an officer, and the man was also belligerent after Woods arrived.
Woods attempted to apprehend the man for trespassing, Asmus-Otero said. The man placed his hands in his pockets and refused to remove them despite Woods' requests. At that point, she said, the man "acted in a manner that our officer is trained to respond to," but would not provide more details, other than to say he was "aggressive" and "verbally abusive."
Glascock said police did not find "a firearm or knife" on or near the man's body after he was shot.
State Parks officers are fully certified law enforcement officers who attend the state police academy for training. Simon said officers are trained to focus on education and interaction with the public, rather than confrontation.
He said the "vast majority" of parks users "comply willingly with parks fees," which generate almost two-thirds of the state parks division's budget.
"Deadly force is always a last resort," Simon said. "The choice to use it is based on the risk the officer sees of imminent injury or death to the officer or to the public. ... Failure to pay fees would not have been a reason for this officer to do what he did."
Sun-News photographer Norm Dettlaff contributed to this report.
a GRINGO origin:
http://www.wordorigins.org/wordorg.htm
just scroll down.
I'm a Pink Euro-American Caucasoid.
Which reminds me of a past conversation: "Put a 'white' piece of paper next to my skin, you think I look 'white'? I'm not 'white'! That can only look 'white' to you if you're color blind. Where do you get off calling me 'white'? Anybody that ain't blind or stupid can see that I am not 'white'. Racist!"
Well, it was really not quite that way, but I've made my point.
Around here, they join the Parks force until an opening happens at local police forces. This kid was obviously picked on a lot in high school.
I was in conversation with his partner(a more stable individual) the kid did not like it when I told him to be quite adults are talking. He pulled out his pepper spray and got me real good. I remember it looking like a garden hose on a picture window... Lucky for him I had been drinking. The three beers I had on a buddy's boat made me guilty of a crime(.08).
The bastard was lucky...real lucky. If I was not "Impaired", he would have lost his job. His Partner told me in court, when get this...the kid offered probation if I apologized to him for saying what I said!
I stood up in front of everyone in the room(assistant prosecutor included), and told the little bastard to go get F%^$#%^%!. I ended up with probation for 6 mths...
Most of the time the civilians are in the wrong.Because I have experienced the dark side of LEO wannabees, I raise a brow over this article...
Sounds like Smokey done got rambunctious.
Nope, only Anglo and Honkie are accepted now and Anglo is discouraged.
Cracker, Man. You forgot Cracker!
Way too many folks are getting guns and badges. Way too many! It is reaching the point that every local, state and federal employee is now a "commissioned law enforcement officer"
If I read this right, the shooter was selling park passes. A gate keeper. An armed gatekeeper. An armed gate keeper with an itchy trigger finger.
Out of curiousity, what reason did he give? I'm guessing he had to have cited more than just your impairment.
I was "belligerent".
And, I will bet the proverbial dollars to donuts that the shot dude had priors.
You may be a Redneck if you forget about Cracker. :-)
Later news item (today)
http://www.borderlandnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050826/NEWS/508260336/1001
LAS CRUCES -- Investigators have identified a man shot to death Tuesday by a state parks officer at Elephant Butte State Park, and court records reveal the man had been in trouble with the law several times in the months before his death.
The man was identified as Bruce Teschner, 58, said New Mexico State Police Lt. Jimmy Glascock. Teschner has ties to Colorado, but court records indicate he had been in Sierra County since at least December.
His shooting was the first fatal shooting by an officer at one of New Mexico's 32 state parks in at least 30 years. State police are investigating, and the officer involved, Clyde Woods, is on paid administrative leave pending the conclusion of the investigation, said Dave Simon, New Mexico state parks director.
The confrontation began just after 8 p.m. Tuesday at Lion's Beach, a busy area near the visitor's center, after Teschner became belligerent with a park volunteer over a $14 camping fee he refused to pay, officials say.
According to court records, Teschner had an outstanding bench warrant in Sierra County for failing to appear in court on a harassment charge. He was also awaiting trial on charges of resisting, evading or obstructing an officer and disorderly conduct stemming from a June incident, and failure to carry automobile insurance and wear a safety belt stemming from a December incident.
If you were not impaired, would you have said what you did? What had he done to cause you to say it?
Yes, Indeed he needed to be put down!!
Especially the no seat belt part...
Gotta go... I'll bore you with the whole story when I return from the concert with the bride...
BTW: The only true "caucasians" are Armenians and Georgians.
I have no problem with being called white (my race) or Anglo (my predominant language). I'd prefer it, however, if you simply called me by my given name.
It's okay. You can keep your hands in your pockets now.
The guy should've claimed to be an illegal. He probably would've gotten a free campsite and water.
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