Taos, NM - On Saturday June 12, 2021, the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau was asked to investigate an Officer Involved Shooting.
Investigators learned that on Saturday June 12, 2021, at around 3:00 a.m. a Taos Police Officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a Hyundai passenger vehicle for several traffic violations on State Road 68 in Taos. The vehicle failed to stop for the officer and a vehicle pursuit ensued onto Cruz Alta Road.
After a short vehicle pursuit, the Hyundai crashed on Fernandez Road. At that point in the encounter shots were fired between the suspect, 18-year-old Antonio Olivares from Albuquerque, NM, and the Taos Police Officer. Olivares was struck by gunfire but was able to evade the officer on foot. Officers established a perimeter around the area and found Olivares a short time later on Gusdorf Place.
Olivares was taken into custody without further incident and transported to a local hospital for treatment. He was airlifted to an Albuquerque hospital for injuries that were not life threatening, and he was later released. Olivares is facing charges related to this incident. For more information related to the charges Olivares is facing, please reach out to the Taos Police Department.
No officers were injured in this incident which is under investigation by the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau. The identity of the Taos officer involved will not be released until after interviews are conducted.
Information from NM State Police