NMSP News:Around 3:30 p.m., Aug. 14, Otero County Sheriff’s Department deputies began pursuing a stolen vehicle.
The vehicle, a silver Dodge sedan, fled from deputies when they attempted to contact the vehicle south of Alamogordo. The pursuit involving multiple deputies entered the city limits of Alamogordo, where deputies discontinued the pursuit for safety concerns.
A short time later, deputies received a tip that the stolen vehicle was spotted north of Alamogordo in the La Luz area. Deputies reencountered the vehicle and a second pursuit was initiated when the vehicle fled again from law enforcement. That pursuit went westbound on Alamo Street. Deputies deployed tire deflation devices attempting to stop the vehicle, but the driver avoided them and the attempts were unsuccessful. After several miles, shots were fired by multiple deputies near the intersection of US 54/70.
The stolen vehicle came to rest in the median of US 54/70. The driver of the stolen vehicle, later identified as James Hill, 53, of Alamogordo, was struck by gunfire in his arm. Deputies rendered first aid to Hill, the sole occupant of the vehicle, until EMS arrived. Hill was transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
The New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau was contacted to investigate this police shooting. At this time, the investigation is preliminary.
Information leading up to the shooting remains under investigation. The number of deputies who fired and the number of shots fired also remains under investigation. The names of deputies involved will not be released until all interviews have been completed.
James Hill was released from medical treatment and charged by State Police today for the following crimes: Receiving/transporting a stolen vehicle (felony); Aggravated fleeing from a law enforcement officer (felony); Resisting/evading an officer; and driving with a suspended license. Hill also had an outstanding traffic warrant for his arrest at the time of the incident. Hill was booked today into the Otero County Detention Center.
This incident remains under investigation with no further information available. When more information is available it will be disseminated.
