Grants man indicted on 4 felonies

By Jim Tiffin
Staff Writer

GRANTS — A local man has been indicted by the 13th Judicial District grand jury on four felonies.

Timothy Vigil, 51, of 900 1/2 Melvin, has been indicted on two felony counts of aggravated assault charges against a household member, one count of battery on a household member and one count of aggravated assault on a peace officer.

An emergency call to police on Superbowl Sunday (Feb. 6), was originally made about a male with a weapon.

When police arrived, Vigil walked out of a trailer and pointed a rifle at police officers, Grants Police Chief Marty Vigil said.

Vigil credited Police Officer James Spidle with using a non-lethal taser to disable Vigil when he became distracted for a fraction of a second and turned his head.

There is a domestic violence protective order against Vigil from 13th Judicial District Judge Camille Martinez-Olguin, prohibiting him from owning or possessing any weapons and prohibiting any domestic violence. The order expires Aug. 17, 2005, according to the New Mexico Judicial Website.

A trial has also been set in district court for Aug. 22, 2005, by Martinez-Olguin.

Court records state that about 9:30 a.m., that day Vigil allegedly began stabbing a door with a pocketknife in the trailer where he and a woman, who is the mother of his children, live.

The grand jury true bill indicates he unlawfully assaulted or struck her with the knife.

The indictment also states that he "unlawfully and intentionally" touched or applied force to the women in a "rude, insolent or angry manner," after unlawfully assaulting or striking her with a .22 caliber rifle.

As police were arriving Vigil allegedly pointed the rifle at an officer and yelled "Kill me Sylvia," according to court documents

He moved behind a car and Spidle began talking to him. When he pointed the rifle to his chin while on his knees, he was tasered.

Vigil faces between three and seven years in state prison on the charges, a $16,000 fine, or both if prosecuted and convicted.

— To contact reporter Jim Tiffin call 287-2197 or e-mail: jtiffin@blackmesa-isp.net.