Grants man ‘subdued’ after suicide threat

By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — Grants Police Department’s SWAT Team responded to a man with a gun inside his house, who shot the weapon inside, threatening to shoot himself, and asked police officers to shoot him at least once while he was outside.

Today, Todd Sterck, 40, of 1221 Estancia, is safe inside the Cibola County Detention Center, having been seen by a mental health counselor and awaiting possible release, said Detention Center Lt. Dave Sisneros.

Grants Police Monday released details on the situation, which occurred March 24 about 9:30-10 a.m.

Detective Moses Marquez said police responded immediately when the call about a man shooting a weapon came in to the regional dispatch center.

When officers arrived, Sterck came out of his house, talked to the officers and returned inside, Marquez said.

“We called out the SWAT team because we knew he had a weapon but we didn’t know what he was going to do with it,” Marquez said.

Sterck came outside a second time, this time yelling at police to shoot him. At this point, Sterck was shot with a “bean bag,” causing him to fall and police were able to rush him and place him in custody.

The “bean bag,” is a small pouch with little metal beads inside and is used as a means of subduing an individual without using lethal force.

Grants police also have Tazers, but need to be about 20-21 feet near an individual to effectively use them.

“Our officers were not going to come out from cover and open themselves to possibly being shot by Mr. Sterck in order to use the Tazer,” Marquez said.

The weapon Sterck had in his possession was a 9 mm Glock. It was fired at least once in the residence, Marquez said.

“In this specific case we put a mental health hold on him, so that he could see a doctor or a counselor,” Marquez said.

“We wanted to make sure he was kept in a safe place, under watch, so he could not hurt himself or anyone else.”
Marquez said Sterck was charged with negligent use of a firearm, a misdemeanor. He faces a trial in Cibola County Magistrate Court on May 14.

“Mr. Sterck was extremely intoxicated,” Marquez said, “and he did not say anything why he was trying to kill himself.”
Police had a blood alcohol test drawn on Sterck, but results will not be returned for between one to two weeks.

Marquez said Sterck lives alone in Grants and Sisneros said Sterck has family of which some members have come to Grants to visit him.

“Mr. Sterck was seen by a counselor and is getting better. He took of all his clothes at one point and was naked in his cell, but he is now putting them on again,” Sisneros said.
A misdemeanor is punishable by 364 days in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both if Sterck is prosecuted and convicted of the firearm charge.

To contact reporter Jim Tiffin call (505) 287-2197 or e-mail: jtiffin.independent@yahoo.com.