News in brief July 19
7/18/2008
Photo by: Natalie Guillen/The New Mexican
A 29-year-old Santa Fe man snatched a woman's purse Friday in the parking lot of a south-side supermarket but was later arrested by officers waiting at his home, police said.
Benny Delgado allegedly staggered drunkenly up to a 41-year-old woman in the parking lot of Albertson's, 3542 Zafarano Drive, about 10:50 a.m., fell into the woman and grabbed the strap of her purse, said Santa Fe Deputy Police Chief Aric Wheeler. The woman was unable to let go of the purse initially because the strap became caught under her arm, and Delgado dragged her several feet before she could let go, he said.
Delgado ran to the passenger side of a red, small sport-utility vehicle and fled, Wheeler said. A witness found the purse and most of its contents — minus the woman's driver's license and $60 in cash — in the parking lot of the nearby Target store, Wheeler said. The woman suffered several abrasions on her knees and one on her right arm, Wheeler said.
Another witness wrote down the SUV's license plate number, and officers were waiting at 118 Placita Verdad when Delgado and Cathleen Gallegos, 22, drove up. Delgado — who had the woman's license and the $60 on him — was charged with robbery, tampering with evidence and conspiracy while Gallegos was charged with robbery and conspiracy, Wheeler said.
Plans for Catholic school put on hold
Plans for a Catholic school in the Española Valley for grades seven-12 received a setback recently when the Archdiocese of Santa Fe told the school's planners they will have to wait at least one year to open.
Rev. Terry Brennan, the pastor of San Juan Catholic Church in Ohkay Owingeh and the school board president, said archdiocesan school officials had told him they want the school to be in "sufficiently sound financial condition" before it opens.
School supporters have raised about $20,000, Brennan said, and officials feel the school could open with between $75,000 and $100,000. Between now and the fall of 2009 — when Brennan plans for the school to open — supporters will raise money through fundraisers, he said.
Brennan said other funds will come from a program in which students will attend school four days a week and work a job the fifth to pay tuition. He said he and supporters would work over the next year to find employers willing to participate.
Family sues county over suicide attempt
The mother and son of an Española woman who tried to hang herself two years ago in the Santa Fe County jail is suing the county, the sheriff and jail officials, claiming they failed to take steps to prevent the suicide attempt.
According to the lawsuit, when Nanette Romero was booked July 17, 2006, on a charge of aggravated assault on a household member, she was assigned to the jail's "least-structured environment," where drugs were "readily available," even though she told a jail nurse she was a heroin addict on methadone maintenance.
Although Romero, now 25, was on a suicide watch, she cut her wrists with her name badge while in the throes of withdrawal, the complaint says. After three days in jail, the complaint says, she was found hanging by the neck with a television cord, resulting in an anoxic brain injury that left her mentally retarded and requiring constant supervision.
Lawyer Mark Donatelli filed the complaint in state District Court on Wednesday on behalf of Romero's mother, Della Sherwood, and Romero's son, Christian Sherwood. Sheriff Greg Solano declined comment.
Fun for all at SunCor festival
SunCor New Mexico is hosting a free family festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at its newest residential development, La Entrada, near Rancho Viejo Boulevard and Avenida del Sur.
The La Entrada Family Festival, at 54 Via Puento Nuevo, will include a barbecue lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., pony rides, bouncy houses, face painting, roping lessons, horseshoe games, arts and crafts and a bike-safety rodeo.
More information and directions are available at www.ranchoviejo.com/festival or by calling 473-7700.
FBI charges man with Taos robbery
FBI agents have charged a 23-year-old Albuquerque man with robbing a bank in Taos on Tuesday.
Taylor Matthew Hatton was arrested Wednesday at his home in Albuquerque and charged with bank robbery in federal court, according to the Taos News.
A man wearing dark clothing, including a mask over his face, used a gun to rob the First Community Bank in Taos, then left on foot, according to a press release from the Taos Police Department. The man dropped the backpack containing the money and fled in a Toyota pickup, which police pursued into the Taos Canyon area before losing it. The truck was found abandoned in Taos Canyon.
Open Hands to honor residents
Open Hands is hosting an open house from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday honoring the courage of two area residents.
Jim MacLaren, a Yale graduate, lost a leg in a near-fatal car accident but went on to compete against able-bodied opponents as a top marathoner and Ironman triathlete. Eight years after the first accident, another accident left the Santa Fe resident an "incomplete quadriplegic." In addition to appearing on the Oprah Winfrey Show and Larry King Live, MacLaren has received an ESPY Award from the ESPN cable network for excellence in sports performance.
Gina Montoya of Chimayó was born with congenital disabilities as a result of her father's exposure to chemicals while stationed in Vietnam.
Actor Wes Studi will be the speaker at the open house, 2976 Rodeo Park Drive East.
Erdoes memorial set for Tuesday
A memorial service for Richard Erdoes is set for 5 p.m. Tuesday at El Rancho de las Golondrinas.
The German-born artist, author and photographer died Wednesday at home in Santa Fe at the age of 96.
In 1940, Erdoes escaped the Nazi takeover of Germany and Austria by moving to New York City, where he became an illustrator for Life magazine. In 1975, he and his wife began living in Santa Fe.
Directions to the service are available at www.golondrinas.org.