Questions Mount from Wednesday’s Deadly Chase; Police “Starting from Zero”

Questions mount in fatal police chase

New Mexico State Police tell SFR they are “starting from zero” in their investigation of a possible carjacking/kidnapping attempt Wednesday that left two people dead following a fatal police chase. Yesterday, State Police identified the uninvolved driver killed in the case: retired Las Vegas, NM firefighter Frank Lovato, 62 who, along with Santa Fe Police officer Robert Duran, 43, was pronounced deceased on the scene by the Office of the Medical Investigator following fatal injuries in the crash. Beyond those indisputably tragic facts, much remains unknown about the incident. According to the original narrative released by both city and state police, the situation began at approximately 11 am, March 2 when someone reported a man armed with a knife kidnapping and carjacking a woman at Rancho Vizcaya Apartments. Shortly thereafter, SFPD located the vehicle and initiated pursuit near Sawmill Road and St. Francis Drive. The pursuit continued to Interstate 25 where the suspect drove in the wrong direction, culminating in a crash near milepost 286 just north of Old Pecos Trail. Following the crash, the kidnapping victim exited the suspect vehicle and was transported to a local hospital, where she was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and later released. Police say witnesses reported an unidentified male subject—described as wearing a red shirt, black pants and black jacket—who fled the area on foot and purportedly remains at large.Yet despite the purported carjacker being on the loose, last night, State Police issued a news release saying the agency “does not believe that there is an ongoing threat to the public,” with no further explanation. When reached by phone, Johnson declined to even say whether investigators still believe the woman was carjacked: “We are not going that far yet,” he says. Police have questioned the woman multiple times, he says, but he would not say whether she stands by her story about what happened at the apartment complex. She is not in custody, but Johnson says he is confident “our guys know where she is.” Santa Fe Police Interim Chief Paul Joye confirms to the Santa Fe New Mexican that authorities are investigating rumors the woman in the fleeing car was, in fact, alone. State police asks anyone who witnessed the suspect vehicle after the traffic crash, the occupants of the vehicle, or has relevant information to contact State Police Investigations Bureau Sergeant Andrew Jorgenson at 505-490-3871 or Agent Wyatt Harwell at 505-316-5254.

Sen. Luján returns to Senate

US Sen. Ben Ray Luján, 49, who suffered a stroke in early January, returned to work yesterday. “It is the greatest honor of my life to represent New Mexico in the United States Congress,” Luján said in a statement. “Now, the Senate has several important matters on its docket—from confirming the first Black woman to the Supreme Court to lowering costs for working families—and I am pleased to be back to the business of legislating. I want to thank my constituents, my family, my staff, and my Senate colleagues for their continued love and support. With this support and by God’s grace, I am back in the Senate and eager to get the job done for New Mexicans.” According to The Hill, Luján received a standing ovation from his colleagues as he arrived at a Senate Commerce Committee meeting. “Every one of you that sent me notes, that sent videos, and all the prayers, it worked,” Luján said. Following the meeting, the Washington Post reports, Luján told DC reporters he was going to return last week but “everyone said, you know, ‘you need to get a little stronger, just get better and take care of yourself.’ The compromise was, ‘let’s get back this week,’ and I said, ‘Okay, let’s do that.’ " Luján’s absence created potential political problems for Senate Democrats, given Democrats’ 50/50 majority and several key upcoming votes, such as the Supreme Court nomination of US Circuit Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson.

Gov signs affordable housing legislation

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham yesterday signed Senate Bill 134, which provides a recurring revenue source for the New Mexico Housing Trust Fund by dedicating 2.5% of the annual severance tax bond capacity for the New Mexico Housing Trust Fund administered by the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority. According to a news release, the fund is expected to generate an estimated $20-25 million annually in dedicated funding for the New Mexico Housing Trust Fund. “Providing greater access to stable and affordable housing will have profound and positive social implications that ripple throughout New Mexico communities,” the governor said in a statement. New Mexico has a shortage of 32,000 units for renters making less than 30% of area median income, according to a study commissioned by the Housing New Mexico Advisory Committee, while 218,471 New Mexico households were identified as “cost burdened”—spending more than 30% of their income on housing costs.

COVID-19 by the numbers

March 3:

New cases: 407; 512,938 total cases

Top three counties: Bernalillo County with 94; San Juan County with 61; McKinley and Doña Ana counties with 30

Santa Fe County: 22

Breakthrough cases: According to the most recent weekly vaccine report, between Jan. 31-Feb. 28, 48% of COVID-19 cases were among people who had not completed a primary vaccination series; 27.9% were among those who had completed the series but had not received a booster; and 24.1% were among those who were fully vaccinated and boosted. For hospitalizations, those figures change to 65%, 18.3% and 16.7%. The percentages shift to 63.1%, 20.7% and 16.2% for fatalities.

Deaths: 17 recent, 13 recent and four from more than 30 days ago, including a Santa Fe County male in his 60s; Santa Fe County has had 248 deaths; there have been 6,956 statewide. Hospitalizations: 225

Vaccinations: 91.9% percent of adults 18 years and older have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 78.1% have completed their primary series; 44.5% of adults 18 years and older have had a booster shot; 12-17-year-old age group: 71.1% of people have had at least one dose and 61.1% have completed their primary series; Children ages 5-11: 38.6% have had at least one dose of the Pfizer vaccine and 29.6% have completed their primary; Santa Fe County: 99% of people 18 and older have had at least one dose and 87% have completed their primary series.Resources: Vaccine registration; Booster registration Free at-home rapid antigen tests; Self-report a positive COVID-19 test result to the health department; COVID-19 treatment info: oral treatments Paxlovid (age 12+) and Molnupiravir (age 18+); and monoclonal antibody treatments. Toolkit for immunocompromised individuals. People seeking treatment who do not have a medical provider can call NMDOH’s COVID-19 hotline at 1-855-600-3453.

You can read all of SFR’s COVID-19 coverage here.

Listen up

Be sure to check out New Mexico PBS’ new digital series, Indigi-Genius, which explores the scientific and cultural impact of Indigenous creations. Host Lee Francis IV (Laguna Pueblo) is also the CEO and Founder of Native Realities, through which he founded Indigenous Comic Con in 2016 and opened Red Planet Books and Comics, the only Native comic shop in the world. In episode 1, Francis talks about the history of blue corn mush; he explores waterproof clothing in the second episode. Upcoming shows—so far they each run about five minutes—will focus on a variety of topics including jerky, drum-making and treaties.

NM musician to compete for best hit song

NBC yesterday unveiled the names of 56 artists who will compete in its forthcoming show, American Song Contest. Based on the Eurovision Song Contest, the American version will feature live original musical performances representing all 50 states, five US territories and Washington, DC, with artists competing to win the country’s vote for the Best Original Song. Hosted by Snoop Dogg and Kelly Clarkson, the show will include both established artists representing their states like Jewel (Alaska), Michael Bolton (Connecticut) and Macy Gray (Ohio), along with rising stars. New Mexico will be represented by Khalisol, from Albuquerque, also known as Zachary Chicoine. His career, the show bio says, began as a ghost writer and producer for other artists. Now under the name Khalisol, “his original songs push soul, hip-hop and rap to the frontier of the New Mexico music scene.” American Song Contest, which will include three qualifying rounds, launches March 21.

Open secrets

Travel & Leisure magazine highlights what it describes as a “secret” hiking spot only available to folks staying at Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe. The hotel reportedly has an “exclusive adventure center,” where guides take visitors to said secret hiking spot, known as the “Valley of Shining Stone,” as part of a “Journey to Abiquiu.” While at the Valley of Shining Stone, hikers have “the chance to see a variety of hidden canyons and vistas, each filled with history, geology, ethereal rock formations and quiet wonder.” According to Hans Loehr, the hotel’s “experiences architect,” the Valley of Shining Stone is located on private land owned by Dar al Islam mosque, accessible only by car, gated and requiring an access code. “It’s considered a sacred place,” Loehr tells the magazine, “hence the remote location and limited permits. I am not aware of any other outfitter having a permit, most definitely no other resort.” Loehr says folks visiting “should consider themselves lucky to even find it” noting the trip includes two guides, one of whom is either an archaeologist or geologist to explain the site’s significance. The trip lasts all day and a “‘Yogihiker” guide takes over once guests reach Plaza Blanca.

Wild weekend weather

TGIF, Santa Fe. Still dark out there, but it may have rained overnight or be raining right now as the National Weather Service says showers are likely (60% likely) before 8 am. The day will start cloudy, and gradually become mostly sunny, with a high near 62 degrees, southwest wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. We have a slight chance for rain tonight, with Saturday mostly sunny and in the mid 50s. There will then be a slight chance for snow Saturday night into Sunday morning. Sunday itself will cool off with temps back in the 40s. To summarize: rain, sun, wind, snow.

Thanks for reading! The Word has been reading about Ukrainian rock star poet activist Serhiy Zhadan, and watching a new music video by Ukrainian hip-hop group TNMK, “Houses,” based on one of his poems. Zhadan, along with other Ukrainian and US authors, will read in a live Pen America virtual event today in solidarity with the Ukrainian people.