A man suspected of throwing rocks at a marked police unit, shattering a window and damaging a second vehicle, was arrested early Wednesday morning after a SWAT callout on the grounds of a local elementary school.
Armando Rodriguez, 34, of the 700 block of north Manzanita Street, is charged with two third-degree felony counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer and a fourth-degree felony count of criminal damage to property. Rodriguez is also charged with four misdemeanors: criminal damage to property; resisting, evading or obstructing an officer; and two counts of criminal trespassing.
About 11:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 13, Las Cruces police were dispatched to the 1800 block of Madrid Avenue where Rodriguez was allegedly trying to enter the home of his ex-girlfriend. The woman, who in July was granted a trespass card that forbid Rodriguez from being at her home, indicated to dispatch that her ex-boyfriend was gathering rocks outside her residence and attempting to break the windows.
A Las Cruces police officer, in a marked patrol unit, located Rodriguez nearby. As the officer approached, Rodriguez threw a large rock that struck the driver’s-side door of the marked patrol unit. Rodriguez threw several more rocks that struck the unit. One of those rocks shattered the rear, passenger-side window. A police K-9 was in the back seat of the unit at the time but escaped injury. Rodriguez allegedly threw several more rocks that damaged a second police unit.
Investigators learned that Rodriguez jumped a chain link fence and entered the grounds of Loma Heights Elementary School. Officers surrounded Rodriguez who armed himself with a knife. LCPD’s SWAT team was activated about 1 a.m. and made numerous attempts at gaining compliance from Rodriguez. SWAT officers deployed less-lethal munitions, but no shots were fired. Rodriguez was ultimately taken into custody and arrested shortly before 3 a.m. Wednesday. No major injuries were reported.
Rodriguez was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center where he’s initially being held without bond.
Information from Las Cruces Police