Dona Ana County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to Chucky’s Convenience Store at 800 Thorpe Road regarding a fight in progress, primarily caused by one male. Deputy Jessie Espana arrived to find two male subjects struggling on the floor inside the store, as well as panicked bystanders. Deputy Espana quickly determined that Canaan Bower was restraining a suspect, later identified as Daniel Beltran Arroyo, who had been fighting with store patrons.
Subsequent investigation revealed a woman and her two small children had just been dropped off by a Greyhound bus at that location. The trio was waiting outside the store for an Uber when Arroyo approached her and grabbed her older daughter’s arm. The woman had no relationship to Arroyo who demanded she give both children to him. The woman refused to let go of her children and Arroyo struck the woman once in the head in an attempt to take both children from her.
Bystanders assisted in getting the woman and her children into the store and managed to fight off Arroyo briefly. Arroyo made his way into the store and continued fighting with bystanders. It was then Bower heard the commotion from across the street at the Circle K. Bower had observed a woman, who was holding her children, trying to flee from a man.Bower drove across the street to Chucky’s to assist. By then both the woman, her children and the man had entered the store. Bower followed them in and grabbed Arroyo. Bower immediately took Arroyo to the ground using his wrestling skills. Bower was able to hold Beltran until deputies arrived.
It was determined Beltran had struck several people during the March 25 affray. Had it not been for Bower’s quick and reasoned response, the outcome may have been very different.
Arroyo, whose last known address was in Phoenix, was arrested for Attempted Kidnapping, Child Abuse, Several counts of Battery and Assault. Arroyo was then booked at the Dona Ana County Detention Center.
Information from Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Department