Search warrant leads to 2 arrests

Two men were arrested — including one on felony complaints — after several law-enforcement agencies recovered narcotics and stolen property during a search of two Tucumcari residences.

According complaints filed Jan. 28 in Tucumcari magistrate court, the men arrested were:

— Donnie, aka Donie, Dell Lucero, 54, of Tucumcari, on complaints of misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, felony possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), felony receiving of stolen property (over $500 but not more than $2,500) and felony possession of a firearm or destructive device by a felon.

— Orlando Anthony Martinez, 52, of Tucumcari, on complaints of misdemeanor assault upon a police officer (threat or menacing conduct), misdemeanor resisting an officer and misdemeanor disorderly conduct (engaging in violent, abusive or indecent conduct).

Each of Lucero’s felony counts can lead up to 18 months in jail and a $5,000 fine. Lucero and Martinez were released by court order Wednesday, and both had public defender Anna Aragon listed as their attorney. Aragon, when contacted, said she had no knowledge of the cases yet and declined further comment.

According to complaints filed Jan. 25 by Quay County sheriff’s deputy Christopher Valdez, officers from the sheriff’s office, Region V Task Force, New Mexico State Police and the 10th Judicial District Attorney’s Office executed a search warrant that day on two residences in the 600 block of West High Street.

The complaint stated Lucero, who was in one of the residences, was placed in restraints on a couch as officers searched. Valdez stated “several things were found in the residence, stolen property from burglaries belonging to other residences, methamphetamine and baggies used in the sale of narcotics, glass pipes used in smoking methamphetamine, scales and a couple of firearms.” Elsewhere in the complaint, it stated the stolen property also included jewelry and knives.

Quay County Sheriff Russell Shafer confirmed some of the recovered items were stolen from a residence in the 1200 block of South Second Street in early December. The burglary later was described in a local Crime Stoppers alert.

Shafer said law-enforcement officers are investigating whether Lucero was involved with other burglaries in the area.

In the complaint against Martinez, Valdez stated officers were searching Lucero’s residence when they heard a vehicle drive up. Valdez said he looked outside, saw a man he recognized as Martinez sitting in a blue van and yelled at another deputy outside to see what he was doing.

Valdez stated the deputy twice yelled to Martinez to get out of the vehicle and show his hands, but he did not comply.

Martinez eventually exited the van, “charged towards” and yelled at the deputy and didn’t show his hands. Another officer left Lucero’s residence to assist, and they threatened to use their Tasers if he didn’t comply. As Martinez faced away from the officers and put his hands on the van, Valdez stated “Orlando then jerks around very quickly and begins to charge towards me which was only a few feet away, so I tased Orlando and he went to the ground immediately.”

Officers took Martinez to Trigg Memorial Hospital for medical clearance before booking him in the county jail.