GRANTS, N.M. – A call to the Grants Police Department on the evening of Friday, October 13, 2023, led to an incident involving property damage and disorderly conduct at a residence in Grants, New Mexico.
According to the police report, an officer of the Grants Police Department responded to a dispatch call regarding a disturbance at 816 Seville Loop. The call was made by Minerva Galindo, who reported that her daughter, Minerva Nevarez, was engaged in destructive behavior within their home and appeared to be intoxicated.
Officers initially attempted to make contact by knocking on the door but received no response. Galindo arrived and granted the officers access to the residence.
Upon entering, the officers observed extensive damage throughout the home. The kitchen table had been overturned, internal doors were pulled from their frames, drawer faces were ripped off, and there was debris scattered throughout the residence.
The officers announced their presence as law enforcement officers before searching the premises. In one of the bedrooms, they discovered Nevarez attempting to hide under a bed, though she was unable to fit entirely. The officers requested her to come out and engage in conversation, but Ms. Nevarez resisted, pushing past them and stating her reluctance to speak. A subsequent attempt to detain her led to a physical altercation, during which she resisted arrest and attempted to spit on one of the officers, narrowly missing.
After a struggle, the officers managed to handcuff Nevarez. She continued to resist and was carried to their vehicle before being placed inside.
The officers then spoke with Galindo, who provided information about the events leading up to the incident. She explained that she had left for work at approximately 10 am and returned home at 7:30 p.m. to discover the damage. She believed that the destruction had occurred between her departure and the officers' arrival. Galindo also mentioned that the bedroom where Nevarez was discovered belonged to her and could have suffered damage had the police not intervened.
Nevarez was transported to Cibola General Hospital for medical clearance, where she exhibited uncooperative behavior, including an alleged attempt to spit on one of the officers, kicking a security guard, and resisting medical staff. The attending doctor briefly examined Nevarez and determined her to be medically fit for incarceration.
Despite further resistance during the process of returning her to the police vehicle, Nevarez was eventually transported to the Cibola County Correctional Center for incarceration.