A baby boy was delivered at 3:30am Saturday, thanks to the help of Lt. Ferris Simmons of the Albuquerque Police Department. While in labor, the mother Veronica Lavin buckled her first two children into their car early Saturday morning, but realized on the way to the hospital that she wasn’t going to make it. After receiving a call from Lavin, 911 dispatchers, who were unable to determine an exact location from the call, sent Simmons and another officer to search I-25 for the laboring woman. They found her pickup truck on the southbound shoulder and came upon the scene just in time to help Lavin undress before the baby crowned. The lieutenant had to help the newborn, whose shoulder was stuck, and had to unwind the umbilical cord before delivering the baby boy. The father arrived shortly after the delivery and accompanied the mother to a hospital. Lt. Simmons, who has served for 16 years with APD, said it was the best day she’s ever had at work.
State Worker Accused Of Inappropriate Conduct With Teen Killer
Amber Lucero, a 35-year-old staff member at the Sequoyah Adolescent Treatment Center, was arrested and charged last week with criminal sexual contact of a minor after allegedly taking part in a year-and-a-half-long relationship with a teen in her care. The teen was later identified as Nehemiah Griego, the 19-year-old who was sentenced as a juvenile earlier this year for shooting and killing his parents and three siblings. The relationship, which allegedly began in 2014—when Griego was 17, was reported to the treatment center’s administration by some of Griego’s family members. Lucero, who was a psych technician at the facility during the time, has admitted to holding hands and kissing the teen while in areas of the treatment center that she knew to be out of security camera range. Letters had also been secretly exchanged between the two after he had been transferred to a different facility, she admitted. Lucero told arresting officers that she was “ashamed and not proud of what she’s done.” Griego told authorities that he had never had sex with Lucero, but had once touched her breast over her clothing. Although she does not deny the charges, Lucero told the Albuquerque Journal that she had been persuaded into the relationship by Griego, who will be released from the state’s juvenile jail when he turns 21. Lucero recognizes the seriousness of her charges and hopes the judicial system will be sympathetic.
Dog Head Fire Continues To Threaten Homes
Hundreds have been forced from their homes by a fire that has been raging since Tuesday, June 14, in the Manzano Mountains. An update posted on the federal Incident Information System Tuesday reported over 17,000 acres destroyed by the fire. A containment level of 46% was reported, thanks to a rise in humidity levels and the concerted efforts of state and federal fire specialists over the weekend. In response to the tragedy, County Commissioners declared a state of emergency Sunday night, increasing the county’s access to federal emergency funds. Some evacuees were allowed to return to their homes on Monday. Officials believe the fire was caused by a person and are investigating.
