STATE News:

• Phase 2 of Statewide Violent Fugitive Round Up ‘Operation Steel Net’ Nets 39 Arrests of Offenders Accused of Domestic Violence

ALBUQUERQUE – Today, Attorney General Hector Balderas, in coordination with Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, Sen. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez and the New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence announced the results of phase two of Operation Steel Net.

This operation was a coordinated law enforcement effort between the Office of the Attorney General, the Albuquerque Police Department, the US Marshal Service Task Force, the Office of the Superintendent of Insurance, and the Department of Corrections to find and arrest violent offenders with outstanding warrants in the Albuquerque metro area.

This operation is a result of months worth of intelligence gathering, analysis, and coordination, and it resulted in 39 successful arrests of violent criminals wanted by the Court, nearly all of them on charges related to domestic violence.

“We must work together to bring perpetrators of domestic violence to justice on behalf of survivors and families across New Mexico,” AG Balderas said. “I am grateful for the collaborative effort of these agencies, and I will continue to aggressively fight against domestic violence in our communities.”

“We can’t predict homicides, but we can attack the underlying causes, like domestic violence, drugs, gangs and gun violence,” Mayor Tim Keller said. “Some of the offenders who perpetrate violence at home drive other types of crime in our city. This partnership between APD and the Attorney General is a force multiplier to get violent criminals off the streets and behind bars.”

Sen. Sedillo Lopez added, “I am grateful for the leadership of the Attorney General in training law enforcement on gun safety and domestic violence laws that will save lives.”

“The Coalition is deeply appreciative of the work of the Attorney General in collaborating with advocacy groups to protect the lives of survivors of domestic violence,” said Pamelya Herdon of the New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence. 

The group also announced the creation of the “Maria Elena Aragon Memorium Training”, a multi-disciplinary approach for training on law, policy, and best practices in investigating and prosecuting DV cases, as well as providing resources for survivors. The training is named for Maria Elena Aragon, a Roswell woman who was killed by her husband Castulo Aragon. He is being prosecuted for her murder by the Office of the Attorney General and Fifth Judicial District Attorney Dianna Luce.

This operation came as a result of the Governor’s Task Force on Violent Crime. The Office of the Attorney General continues to partner with multiple law-enforcement entities throughout the State to continue fighting for the safety of New Mexico families.