Man accused of trying to attack police officer

A Tucumcari man was booked into the Quay County jail after he was accused of trying to attack a police officer with a rock.

Simon Romero, 61, was charged Thursday in Tucumcari magistrate court with aggravated assault upon a peace officer with a deadly weapon and resisting an officer. The aggravated-assault count is a third-degree felony punishable by up to three years in prison and up to a $5,000 fine.

According to a complaint filed by Tucumcari police officer Daniel Lopez, officers on Wednesday were requested by medical personnel to help with a man who was being aggressive to them and the public.

Lopez wrote in the complaint he saw Romero approach a home with a rock in his hand, trying to break in. A man walked out of the house, and Romero began yelling in his face with the rock in his hand. Lopez said he urged Romero to step away from the man.

Romero then approached Lopez “in an aggressive manner with the rock” and “started yelling at me, getting in my face.” Lopez backed off Romero and ordered him to stop approaching.

“Mr. Romero raised the hand he had the rock in as if he was going to hit me with it,” Lopez wrote.

Lopez stated he tried to gain control of Romero but couldn’t because he pulled away.

“Once Mr. Romero raised his hand as he was going to hit me, I grabbed him and assisted him to the ground,” Lopez wrote.

Romero was placed in hand restraints, and medical personnel took him to the Trigg Memorial Hospital emergency room. After the hospital released him, Romero was taken to the Quay County Detention Center for booking.

Magistrate Judge Timothy O’Quinn on Thursday found probable cause in the case and ordered Romero jailed. Romero was released on bond Thursday morning. No attorney was listed for Romero in online court records.