PRESS RELEASE

TCCS Press Release

CRIME STOPPER'S TIP PAYS OFF!

During the last week of March, Taos County Crime Stoppers received a Tip from an anonymous source regarding a number of illegal firearms.

Taos County Crime Stopper's Law Enforcement Coordinator, working through a Federal Probation Officer was able to direct Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms agents to the Federal Probationer who possessed the weapons. As a result, at least 13 firearms worth thousand of dollars were recovered. ATF reports that at least one of the weapons was stolen and at least one other weapon had an obliterated serial number. Two of the weapons were illegally altered. The suspect is looking at an additional 10 years in Federal Prison as a result of his possession of these weapons.

TAOS COUNTY CRIME STOPPERS…
"Making Taos County Safer... One Anonymous Tip at a Time"

POSTING, VANDALISM & REMOVING CAMPAIGN SIGNS

The Taos Police Department has issued a warning regarding the posting, vandalism or removing of political campaign signs.

POSTING CAMPAIGN SIGNS:
Everyone that is posting or putting up political campaign signs, must first ask permission from the owner or someone that has authority to say it is okay to put signs up on anyone's property before posting them. Remember also if you put signs up on state right way, like stop lights, stop signs or the highway right of way, NMDOT will remove them. Posting or putting up political signs without permission is a criminal trespass violation.

9.28.020: CRIMINAL TRESPASS:

A. Criminal trespass consists of unlawfully, and with malicious intent, entering or remaining upon the lands of another knowing that such consent to enter or remain is denied or withdrawn by the owner or occupant thereof.

B. Criminal trespass also consists of unlawfully, and with malicious intent, entering or remaining upon lands owned, operated or controlled by the state or any of its political subdivisions, knowing that consent to enter or remain is denied or withdrawn by the custodian thereof.

C. Whoever commits criminal trespass is guilty of a petty misdemeanor. (Prior code § 14-106)

VANDALISM AND REMOVING CAMPAIGN SIGNS:
If you are taking them just to take them or destroy them, then you are committing a couple violations of the law, which is included here.

9.32.010: LARCENY:

A. Larceny consists of the stealing of anything of value which belongs to another when the value of the thing stolen is one hundred dollars ($100.00) or less.

B. Whoever commits larceny is guilty of violating this section. (Prior code § 14-121)


A Message to the Citizens of Taos County from the TCCS Coordinator:

During the late evening and night of May 20, 2011, three men were shot in the Colorado Road area of Tres Piedras. One man, 53 year old Jeff King died of his injury. He was murdered, plain and simple! The two other men were seriously injured, having been shot in the head. There is no apparent reason for these shootings, no rhyme, no reason! These crimes remain unsolved.

Taos County Crime Stoppers posted a request for information regarding these crimes on its website shortly after May 20th. To date we have received NO Tips regarding this incident. At this time we would like to redouble our efforts to solve this crime. We are issuing a plea to the citizens of Taos County for any information regarding these senseless acts of violence!

It is true that many small law enforcement agencies across this country have limited training and resources. However, there is NO excuse for citizens who have knowledge of a MURDER and the serious shooting of two other men to remain silent.

Please think about this, WHO AMONG US CAN FEEL SAFE IN OUR HOMES IF WE ALLOW MURDERERS TO REMAIN AT LARGE AND TO KILL AT WILL? There are citizens out there who know who committed these crimes! You can pass on this information ANONYMOUSLY to Taos County Crime Stoppers.

Today, thousands of citizens relay information to law enforcement COMPLETELY ANONYMOUSLY through Crime Stopper organizations throughout the world. Yes, Crime Stoppers was started in Albuquerque, New Mexico and yes, Taos County Crime Stoppers was the 9th Crime Stopper program to form, but today thousands of Crime Stopper organizations exist worldwide. Thousands of crimes are solved every year by citizens who anonymously pass on information to Crime Stopper organizations.

In the United States, Crime Stopper information MUST be obtained anonymously, by Supreme Court order! Crime Stoppers cannot pass on information to law enforcement if they know the identity of the Tipster. We do not want to know the identity of our Tipsters! It is your anonymity which legally protects the members of the Taos County Crime Stoppers Board of Directors and its Law Enforcement Coordinator!

Today there are three way for someone to give anonymous information to Taos County Crime Stoppers; by TELEPHONE, by E-MAIL and by TEXT Message. If you call 758-HALT (4258) you will be connected to a professional Crime Stoppers operator, in another state, who will take your Tip and immediately pass it on to the Taos County Crime Stoppers Law Enforcement Coordinator. If you would like to make an anonymous Tip by E-MAIL simply go to our website, www.taoscrimestoppers.org and click on the "GIVE A TIP" button on the top left portion of the screen and follow the simple instructions. For TEXT TIPS; once again go to our website and click on the "TEXT TIP" button located just below the "GIVE A TIP" button. In either case, your Tip will come directly to the Law Enforcement Coordinator.

In many cases the Law Enforcement Coordinator will be able to add to the information contained in the Tip and sometimes be able to clarify the Tip information. He will then pass on the information to the responsible law enforcement agency. NO ONE IS EVER ARRESTED BASED SOLELY ON A CRIME STOPPER TIP! Probable Cause must always be developed through investigation to support any arrest.

If you filed your Tip by E-MAIL or TEXT, the Coordinator has the ability to communicate with you, IF YOU DESIRE AND ALLOW HIM TO. Please note: you will always remain anonymous to him, even during repeated conversations. So, if you've filed in one of these two ways, check back often to see if the Coordinator has responded to your Tip and answer him if you care to.

Today, we in law enforcement know that for every crime committed, there are numerous people who are aware of the identity of the criminal. In many cases, it just takes one of those people to pass on a Tip to assist law enforcement in solving that crime.

Pass on a Tip and help Law Enforcement help YOU!

Detective Barry M. Holfelder,
Taos County Crime Stoppers Law Enforcement Coordinator

Taos County Crime Stoppers, Keeping Taos County Safe, One ANONYMOUS Tip at a Time

 


The Taos Police Department is seeking any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who committed this crime.

If you have any information on this or any other crimes, please call 758-HALT (4258), click on the 'Submit A Tip' button at the top of this page or texting your tip to 274637 keyword: TAOS.
Any information would be helpful.

Remember... callers to CrimeStoppers
do not have to identify themselves.

Return to HOME