Man held for allegedly beating his girlfriend

By Jim Maniaci
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — In a savagely ironic twist, a local couple celebrated Domestic Violence Awareness month with a fight.

A 26-year-old suburban Grants man is being held in the Cibola County Detention Center on a $15,000 bond following a domestic violence incident Saturday night in which his girlfriend cut her hand grabbing an ax from him.

According to the report by Cibola County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Steven Marquez, Francisco Ramirez was threatening to cut himself with the ax blade when Rosie Martinez, 29, of the same address in the Mount Taylor Addition subdivision across from the county justice complex, grabbed the ax, slicing her hand on the blade.

The report came in as a possible stabbing. The statement of probable cause for the arrest warrant stated that when the sergeant arrived in the 100 block of Glenn Street, neighbors flagged him down to tell him they had Martinez in their house. She later was taken to Cibola General Hospital for treatment.

Ramirez was arrested peacefully and booked on a charge of 3rd-degree aggravated battery on a household member. The probable cause statement added that the sergeant removed a baby, no gender or age listed, safely from the house and then arrested the suspect.

Undersheriff Johnny Valdez said Marquez is still following up on the investigation, but that Ramirez had beaten Martinez severely. The probable cause statement added the beating injuries were bruises and abrasions to the face.

Magistrate Jackie Fisher ordered the defendant to be he held on a $15,000 unsecured appearance bond, appointed John Bezzeg as the defense attorney, and ordered him to undergo anger management counseling.

Although October is domestic violence month, local law enforcement agencies regularly give victims of domestic violence directions to the area shelter, Roberta's Place.

Neighbors quarrel
On Sunday, around 6:40 p.m., a neighborhood dispute in the Bluewater area resulted in the arrest of a 52-year-old woman on an aggravated assault charge for allegedly trying to beat an 18-year-old man with a tire iron.

Undersheriff Valdez said Samuel Strode was not injured in what he called "an ongoing dispute between neighbors."

The report by Deputy George Hanna said Theresa Richards was arrested at the scene on Sage Street in the Plano Colorado Estates subdivision.

After being booked in the county jail, Richards was released on her own recognizance, jail officials said.

— To contact reporter Jim Maniaci, telephone (505) 285-6184 or (505) 870-7775 (cellular).