APD responded to a call Sunday morning of a possible attempted armed robbery in the parking lot of the Babies ‘R’ Us near Wyoming and Lomas. The caller told police that she had been approached by three men wearing clown masks, one of whom appeared to be carrying a handgun. When officers appeared on the scene, the three suspects fled south across I-40 while dropping the masks and gun. Police caught up with them, however, and discovered that the trio was made up of a 14-year-old and two 13-year-old boys. What police had originally thought was a handgun turned out to be a BB pistol, which had no visible markings to indicate that it was not a real firearm. The boys told police that the incident had been meant as a prank. They were cited under a city ordinance prohibiting pedestrians from walking on the interstate. Police remind residents to never carry an unmarked firearm facsimile, as it can confuse officers and bystanders and can potentially lead to a fatal misunderstanding.
City Offers Free Pit Bull Training
The city’s Animal Welfare Department have been offering free pit bull training classes at the Eastside Shelter (8920 Lomas NE) every Saturday in October in recognition of National Pit Bull Awareness Month, and in an attempt to give the breed a better reputation. The classes are taught by volunteers and are stocked with treats and training tools by local businesses. There are two free sessions left: “Sit, Stay & Learn” on Oct. 15, and “Troubleshooting Your Concerns” on Oct. 22. The Animal Welfare Department is also offering free spay or neuters and microchips for pit bulls on Oct. 22 at the Eastside and Westside Shelter as well as at Lucky Paws.
N.m. Voters To Decide On Bond Amendment
A single amendment to the New Mexico Constitution will be up for vote next month. It concerns a change in how judges detain certain violent offenders—allowing some to be held without bond—which lawmakers say would free up state funds used to determine whether or not an offender should be released back onto the streets. The amendment would also allow judges to release non-violent offenders if they are not deemed to be a flight risk, which would purportedly free up much of the state’s spending in rural areas, where many pretrial defendants are unable to pay bail for minor crimes and end up staying in jail, all of which is paid for by the state. Voters will decide the amendment’s fate on election day, Nov. 8.
