GRANTS, N.M. – In the late hours of October 6, 2023, a Grants Police Department officers responded to a call regarding a male, identified as Derek Antonio, who was found sleeping near the Riverwalk Park in downtown Grants. The incident took a turn as the individual refused to identify himself and engaged in a series of confrontations with law enforcement.
At approximately 2248 hours, Officer Kyle Saavedra, while on regular patrol, was dispatched to the area of the Riverwalk in response to reports of a male individual sleeping near the pond. Officer Saavedra arrived at the scene and observed the man sleeping on the grass near a bench, with an open pocket knife nearby. He attempted to wake the individual, later identified as Derek Antonio, who was unresponsive at first but eventually stirred awake.
Antonio displayed signs of impairment, and when asked to identify himself, he refused. Officer Saavedra explained the need for identification due to the call for service, but Antonio continued to withhold his identity. Antonio expressed reluctance, asking if he would be taken to jail. Officer Saavedra informed him that refusal to identify could lead to such consequences. When Antonio still refused, he was placed in handcuffs.
During the arrest, Officer Saavedra detected a strong odor of alcohol emanating from Antonio. A search incident to arrest revealed Antonio's New Mexico driver's license and an empty bottle labeled '99 blue raspberries' in his pocket.
As Antonio was being escorted to the patrol vehicle, he became uncooperative, yelling at Officer Saavedra and Officer Garcia. While getting into the vehicle, Antonio hit his head and expressed frustration, blaming the officers for the incident. With assistance, he was eventually secured in the patrol vehicle and transported to Cibola General Hospital for medical clearance.
During the hospital visit, Antonio continued to create a disturbance, yelling and accusing the officers of racism. He resisted cooperation with medical staff and security personnel. Despite his non-compliance, the medical team managed to obtain his vital signs after Officer Saavedra and hospital security restrained him. The doctor ultimately cleared Antonio for incarceration.
Officer Saavedra transported Antonio to Core Civic in Milan for incarceration. During the trip, Antonio demanded fresh air and rolled down the back windows of the patrol vehicle, creating a disturbance among passing workers. Despite attempts to calm him down, Antonio continued to yell and express discomfort.
Upon arriving at Core Civic, Antonio was handed over to several correctional officers without further incident.