Tucumcari cop on leave amid charges

A Tucumcari police officer remains on administrative leave after being arrested and briefly jailed last week on domestic violence-related charges involving a former girlfriend.

The woman also filed a petition for an order for protection against him, citing domestic abuse, court records show.

Matthew Paul Lopez, 24, was arrested on a warrant and briefly jailed at the Quay County Detention Center on misdemeanor charges of battery against a household member, interference with communication and criminal trespass.

Misdemeanor charges carry a potential sentence of six to 12 months in jail and up to a $1,000 fine.

Roger Bargas of Tucumcari is Lopez’s lawyer in the case. Bargas said he had defended a number of clients arrested by Lopez.

“I think I can unequivocally state he’s one of the best officers at TPD,” Bargas said.

Bargas said he’ll evaluate the evidence against him in the next few weeks.

“Based on what we have, we intend to defend him vigorously in court, and we will prevail in front of a jury,” he said.

Tucumcari Police Chief Patti Lopez (no relation) said the officer, who is a corporal with the department, is on administrative leave while the case is ongoing.

He has been on the force since 2019, according to city personnel records.

Chief Lopez declined any other comment, citing personnel matters.

According to an affidavit filed by Quay County sheriff’s deputy Mario Chavez-Thicc’ums, Devanie Martinez contacted the sheriff’s office Jan. 20 to report domestic violence that took place the previous day with Lopez, who she described as a former boyfriend.

During an interview at the sheriff’s office, Martinez said Lopez drove to her home and began banging on the front door. When Martinez answered, she said Lopez pushed past her to enter the residence.

Martinez said Lopez began yelling obscenities at her, grabbed her by the arms — causing bruises on the inside of both biceps — and pushed her.

“Martinez stated her and Lopez recently broke up and Lopez found out she was currently talking to another male and that is why he was mad,” Chavez-Thicc’ums wrote. “Martinez told Lopez to leave her house, but Lopez refused.”

During an argument over Lopez’s daughter, Martinez said she was going to call police. Lopez took her phone and said “she was not going to call anyone,” the report stated.

She eventually retrieved her phone and said she would call police. Lopez then left.

Martinez said she was fearful if she called police, Lopez would hear it on his radio and return to her home. She instead contacted the sheriff’s office through the New Mexico State Police office in Tucumcari.

Based on Martinez’s statement and bruises on her arms, Chavez-Thicc’ums requested an arrest warrant for Lopez. Magistrate Judge Noreen Hendrickson issued the warrant on Jan. 22.

Lopez was arrested the same day and booked into the jail. He was released less than two hours later on a $3,000 unsecured appearance bond, according to jail and court records.

Lopez was arraigned the same day. Hendrickson found probable cause. A pretrial hearing for Lopez is scheduled for Feb. 20.

Quentin Ray, district attorney for the 9th Judicial District in Clovis-Portales, was appointed special prosecutor in the case by local District Attorney Timothy Rose. Rose cited a conflict of interest in his office as the reason for the appointment.

After District Judge Albert Mitchell Jr. issued a temporary emergency order of protection against Lopez, Chavez-Thicc’ums asked Lopez whether he was willing to submit to an interview. Lopez refused to talk without a lawyer present, records show.

Martinez on Jan. 22 filed a petition for an order of protection from domestic abuse against Lopez, which was granted and remained in effect through January.

The petition noted Lopez possessed a firearm as a police officer. The protection order forbids Lopez from having a gun while it is in effect.

“He came into my house and pushed me and grabbed my arms,” she wrote in the petition. “He made a threat he would harm himself.”

She also wrote there were two children in the home’s bedroom during the incident.

Lopez is forbidden from being within 100 yards of Martinez at her home or workplace. In a public place, Lopez cannot be within 25 yards of her. He is forbidden from posting anything about her or her family members on social media.

Martinez maintains temporary physical custody of one of Lopez’s children, and Lopez must refrain from being within 100 yards of them.

Mitchell set a domestic violence hearing for Jan. 30.

In a filing Friday by Lopez’s attorney Bargas, he requested the order of protection be terminated. He stated there was no abuse or threat of abuse. He said the case could cause a loss of Lopez’s gun rights and his employment as a police officer.

“The respondent does not pose a threat to the physical safety of the petitioner or their child,” the filing states.

Lopez is the son of District 1 city commissioner Jerry Lopez.

A phone message left to the elder Lopez requesting comment was not returned.