Two Juveniles Arrested For Tire Slashings Around New Mexico Tech

By John Larson

SOCORRO – A malicious prank is costing two dozen vehicle owners in the Tech area several thousands to replace their tires. Socorro police have arrested two male juveniles in connection with a rash of tire slashings on Neel Street and on the New Mexico Tech Campus. Thirty-five tires on 24 different vehicles were punctured with a knife during the overnight hours of Thursday and Friday, June 10-11.
The vehicles were parked at residences in the 600 and 700 blocks of Neel, the Ben D. Altamirano Apartments, Baca Hall, and the Student Activities Center.
According to the police probable cause report, the two boys were picked up by New Mexico Tech police officers. They had in their possession of two knives and drug paraphernalia at the time, the report said.
Tech police contacted Socorro police, and Detective Rocky Fernandez took the two to the Socorro Police Department for questioning. The Socorro Police Department shares jurisdiction at Tech with the campus police.
Juvenile Probation and Parole Officers were contacted, and as both were under the influence, EMS personnel checked them out and cleared them for incarceration.
“When asked why they had cut all the tires, they both said they had taken some pills to get high and were just messing around,” Fernandez’s report said.
The teenagers have been charged with 24 counts of “injuring or tampering with a motor vehicle,” and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
They were transported to Santa Fe for incarceration.

Two Juveniles Arrested For Tire Slashings Around New Mexico Tech