Posted on 03/22/2006 6:30:34 AM PST by CedarDave
TIJERAS — A Bernalillo County sheriff's deputy was fatally shot after pulling over a pickup truck in this small community east of Albuquerque.
"We're following up leads. We're not going to rest until we find the person responsible for this,'' Sheriff Darren White said early Wednesday morning. White did not immediately release the identity of the deputy.
The deputy pulled over the truck about 12:45 a.m. Wednesday on N.M. 337, just south of old Route 66 and near the entrance to an elementary school, White said.
"And a few minutes later, some people who live nearby heard two gunshots,'' White said. "They looked outside and saw a light-colored pickup truck driving away and the deputy lying in the street'' near the front of his patrol car, White said.
Deputies were looking for a pickup truck with New Mexico license plate 459-CDS.
Investigators did not immediately know why the deputy had stopped the truck, said Erin Kinnard, Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman.
Tijeras is a Manzano Mountain town 16 miles east of Albuquerque.
The last Bernalillo County sheriff's officer who was fatally shot in the line of duty was Lt. William Sibrava, who was killed in May 1994 while trying to serve a court order for mental evaluation of the son of former state legislator Joe Mercer. The son, Stephen Mercer, shot his father as well as Sibrava before he was shot to death by other deputies.
(Excerpt) Read more at abqjournal.com ...
Deputies are looking for a 1991 white Dodge pickup truck with New Mexico license plate 459-CDS.
RIP and Godspeed.
Why assume that the driver of this pickup is an illegal alien? It's more likely it's someone with an outstanding arrest warrant for something. Perhaps we'll find out more, later today.
From TV earlier, looks like they had the area of South 14 just to the south of the 333 intersection blocked. Were you able to get through, or did you have to go around the long way?
You get local radio up there. Let us know if they catch the guy(s). Probably already had warrants out for whoever did this so should have an ID pretty quickly. Either that or a dealer transporting meth or drugs.
Some folks just need to get those knee-jerk reactions out of their system.
Area crime stats?
That might be a good clue.
I was able to get through by going through the school parking lot. Looks like the crime took place near the Vet Clinic, just south of the Tijeras Creek Bridge.
I'll keep you informed as more info becomes available.
Vehicle registered to an individual in the North Valley. Unknown yet if it was stolen.
As you might guess, I know this area pretty well. I think the perp is a homegrown. I don't see too many illegals around, they stick out. If it was one, he had probably stolen the vehicle in town and was passing through.
I figured that was one reason they closed the schools up there (all traffic going through the school parking lot). Other is that at 6:45 radar showed heavy bands of snow approaching the mountains.
Got about 2 inches at my place, don't expect that much. Any moisture is welcome.
Recent Channel 13 video here:
http://www.krqe.com/video/expanded.asp?ID=3871
Found out that KKOB is webcasting -- can access using Bugmenot.com password.
Suspect: Michael Paul Ostorga 29 years old 5'10" hispanic many tattoos. Wanted for another murder as well. Albuquerque native.
suspect identified ping
Tough duty working the roads in the boonies alone
Have identified suspect as 29 year old Hispanic male, 5'11", 160 lbs, many tattoos, already wanted for murder in Albuquerque, Mike Paul Osterga (sp).
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