04-15-2011

Page 1

Roswell Daily Record

City, RPD speak of Coon arrest

Vol. 120, No. 91 50¢ Daily / $1 Sunday

INSIDE NEWS

MATTHEW ARCO RECORD STAFF WRITER

City and Roswell Police Department officials spoke publicly Thursday regarding the arrest of one of the department’s own officers, who was charged Wednesday with nine felonies, including identity theft and possession of a controlled substance.

HOUSE PASSES CUTS

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House gave strong bipartisan approval Thursday to a record $38 billion in cuts from hundreds of domestic programs, clearing the way for a final vote in the Senate on the first major compromise between President Barack Obama and newly empowered Republicans in Congress. - PAGE A2

THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY

April 15, 2011

FRIDAY

www.rdrnews.com

Officials confirmed that Justin Coon, a nearly fiveyear veteran of the department and son to Chaves County Sheriff Rob Coon, is no longer employed by the city. Coon turned himself in to police custody after a warrant was issued for his arrest, which stemmed from an investigation following a March 24 report of fraud at a Roswell Wal-

Scifres and Fry acknowledged they had been in contact with the sheriff, but declined to give any details of their discussions.

greens Pharmacy. Prior to working at the city, Coon had a nearly sixyear career with the New Mexico State Police. A single fourth-degree felony could carry up to a $5,000

fine and between one and two years of jail time, officials said. “It’s an unfortunate incident for everybody here,” said RPD Deputy Chief Jody Scifres during a press

Every 15 Minutes offers important lessons

WEB

For The Past 24 Hours

• Coon charged with 9 felonies • Local flea market burglarized • Vote on census appeal tonight • NMMI’s Hager signs with Southwest Baptist • Coyotes sweep Rockets in DH

INSIDE SPORTS STORY BY EMILY RUSSO MILLER PHOTOS BY MARK WILSON

Machines, usually, make life easier for humanoids and for the most part, each machine is made to do something specific. The NMMI boys tennis team could be described as a machine that makes life anything but easy for its opponents. - PAGE B1

TODAY’S OBITUARIES

• Julian Reyes • Jean A. Orr • James E. Hatch • John Foster • Lori Salcido • Charles Corzine • Robert David Crane • Patricia A. Carr • Charles E. Chewning • Joseph Guebara - PAGE A3, A7

HIGH ...78˚ LOW ....39˚

TODAY’S FORECAST

CLASSIFIEDS..........B5 COMICS.................B3 FINANCIAL .............B4 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........B2 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ..............A8

INDEX

See COON, Page A3

of the program coordinators, said. The nationwide program came to Chaves County in 1999 to drive home the message that someone is killed once every 15 minutes from an alcohol-related accident. That statistic has declined to once every 45 minutes, according to 2008 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Sheriff Sgt. Barry Dixon said the point of the exercise was to emphasize the realities and consequences of driving under the influence. “If this was a real accident, this is exactly what you would see,” Dixon told hundreds of Gateway Christian School and Valley Christian Academy students who watched the street in front of their school become a crime scene. “These could have been your friends.” In the simulated crash, a drunk underage driver flipped his car in front of Gateway school. Two passengers were thrown from the car, while a third victim was injured, stuck in the backseat. Students watched as police and firefighters responded. One of the injured passengers was flown to Eastern New Mexico Medical Center in a Southwest Medivac heli-

TOP 5

NMMI BOYS DOWN RUIDOSO

conference. “We just want to affirm to everyone that we take these matters very seriously,” he said. “It doesn’t matter who it is. If something happens, a criminal act, we’re going to investigate it and properly pursue (it) — and that’s what we did here.” Coon was booked into

Chaves County Youth Awareness Every 15 Minutes program hosted its 13th annual mock simulation of an alcohol-related car crash, Thursday and today, to remind high school students not to drink and drive before prom and graduation. “The mission is saving lives and making a difference,” Diane Taylor, one

See 15, Page A3

Bell finds Taylor guilty Spate of fires erupt along highways of vehicular homicide JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER

John Taylor, 31, was convicted on two counts of vehicular homicide, one while driving while under the influence and one for reckless driving, that resulted in the 2009 death of Martha Cereceres. The incident took place at Chisum and Main streets on the night of Sept. 13, 2009, where a motorcycle accident involving six people took the lives of three. Diana Bishop Smith died at the scene. Her husband Barry Smith and Martha Cereceres died days later.

Judge Steven L. Bell also found Taylor guilty on the misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence, leaving the scene of accident and failure to give notice. Nina Cale, one of the survivors, discussed the incidents leading up to the crash when she and Cereceres went to Farley’s for drinks and joined Taylor, David Hurley, Barry Smith and Diana Bishop Smith at their table around 5 p.m. Cale admitted she had little recall of the accident since she suffered severe head injuries. The only

A rash of grass fires broke out along Highway 285 south of Roswell, Thursday afternoon. Within about a halfhour time frame, three fires were reported along the highway near mile markers 99, 82 and 79. The blaze near mile marker 99 charred about 50 acres of land, fire officials said. High winds helped fuel the blaze, which caused a temporary shutMark Wilson Photo down of traffic traveling Firefighters battle a grass fire fueled by high winds Thursin both directions on the day afternoon about 10 miles south of Roswell. highway. Roswell Fire Depart- the fire is still under Salas said a grass fire ment Chief James Salas investigation. was also reported on said well over 40 person“It could be intentional Highway 70 near the nel from numerous or it could be accidental,” departments responded he said. “It’s hard to Bureau of Land Manageto the calls. The cause of determine at this point.” ment’s field office.

City Council votes unanimously to raise garbage collection rates MATTHEW ARCO RECORD STAFF WRITER

The City Council voted unanimously in favor of raising garbage collection and disposal rates, as well as landfill tipping fees, during its regular monthly meeting Thursday. City of ficials said the increase is necessary in order to sustain the level of service and noted that the fees had not increased in the two areas for at least nine years. Residential collection rates have not increased in 15 years, offi-

See GUILTY, Page A2

cials said. The approved recommendation by city staf f will increase residential collection and disposal by $1.50 per month, with an additional increase of $1 in each of the next six years. The increase would bring the initial monthly charge to $11.75. Councilors also voted to approve a rate hike for disposal of garbage to the city’s landfill. Mayor Del Jurney said he approved of the council’s actions and agreed with Henderson and other councilors regarding the

necessity to increase the rates. According to city sanitation officials, they expect that the landfill’s 13-acre cell currently being used to dispose of waste will reach its limit by either 2014 or 2015. They said it will cost between $1 million and $1.5 million to close that cell and possibly as much as $2 million to create another. The same officials also reminded residents that they have the opportunity to bring solid waste to the landfill for free one day, once a month. Residents

can choose their once-amonth day to dispose of solid waste by providing a copy of a bill showing that they reside in the city. Also during the meeting, members of the city’s youth group, Unity Center, advised councilors that it has been a year since they were ordered to vacate their former organization home at the old airport building. The building was condemned due to sanitation issues. Matt Garcia, a member of the group, told officials that the Unity Center’s at least 65 youth feel like they have

been abandoned by city officials. “I just wanted to know why you guys haven’t helped us?” he asked. Members of the Unity Center were given a temporary home by a resident who allowed them to use a privately-owned building, but they have since left that facility and are without a meeting place. Garcia said the program helps kids stay off drugs by giving them something to do and also supports suicide prevention programs.

mattarco@roswell-record.com


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