Near New Mexico Casino, Offender Severely Hurt in Police Gunfire Incident
A man is seriously ill in a hospital in New Mexico, following a tense encounter with cops at the Sandia Resort & Casino this week.
The wanted suspect, Nicolas Roach, 35, was seen by Albuquerque law enforcers in the casino parking lot on Tuesday night, as per KOAT news. They had a warrant for his arrest, so they tried to halt him by using a grappler, a device that anchors to a car's bumper and prevents its movement.
However, Roach managed to avoid the cops and dragged a cop car around 30 feet while the grappler was still hooked on. He then allegedly discharged his gun at the police officers.
In response, four law enforcers retaliated by firing their weapons, hitting Roach, who was transported to a nearby medical facility.
Current Condition
As of Wednesday, Roach is in critical condition at the hospital, though no updates regarding his wounds have been released.
Indicted for alleged probation breaches, Roach is expected to be detained in prison after his recovery.
During their search of the car Roach had been driving, officers found a gun and bullet casings.
Following a background check on Roach, the police discovered he had previous arrests for car theft, shoplifting, and drug offenses. In February 2022, he was handed a 9-year prison sentence. Three years of that period were suspended, leading to his release last year.
Recently, Roach has also been reported to use methamphetamine, according to the Albuquerque Journal.
Two women in the vehicle with Roach fled when officers tried to apprehend them. Amanda Hand, 34, was apprehended and charged with car theft, while the second woman was apprehended but not identified.
Uninjured Police
No injuries were sustained by any officers during the police-involved shooting, per Police Chief Harold Medina of Albuquerque.
At first, the officers tried to subdue Roach with less-lethal ammo before resorting to bullets, as per departmental procedures. The 4 officers who shot at Roach were placed on paid suspension until authorities examine the situation to determine if the lethal force they used was necessary given the circumstances.
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Source: www.casino.org
