Former Grants Police Chief Spots Wanted Man, Leads to Arrest

GRANTS, NM – On November 14, it was announced by Grants Police Department that Dennis Bubel, who had a warrant out for his arrest on charges of attempted murder and aggravated battery, was captured by Albuquerque Police Department after being observed in the Albuquerque area.

Dennis Bubel is alleged to have been involved in a horrifying incident that occurred on October 7, when a woman was set on fire during a domestic dispute at the Vista Mesa Villa Apartments in Grants, New Mexico. Grants Police Department had a nationwide warrant out for the arrest of Bubel, who is alleged to have set the victim on fire.

According to a police report of the alleged crime, the incident was reported around 4:02 a.m. when multiple 911 emergency calls came in, alerting authorities to a female who was ablaze on the second floor of the Vista Mesa Villa apartment complex. Law enforcement agents with the City of Grants Police Department were dispatched to the scene in response to these calls. Emergency Medical Services were dispatched to the scene, and the victim was ultimately transported to Cibola General Hospital by a friend in a green Chevrolet Tahoe.

A witness reported hearing a domestic disturbance and discovered the victim on fire. She, along with another bystander, tried to help extinguish the flames. Another unidentified female informed law enforcement that the incident may have occurred in apartment #115 and suggested that those involved were acquainted with the victim. Allegedly, the victim had been spending time in apartment #115 with another male, which led to a confrontation between her and what police believed to be her exboyfriend, Bubel. The witness told police they did not see the altercation but did see the victim on fire.

The witnesses told police they were in their apartment when they overheard an argument between a man and a woman, followed by screams. They discovered the victim on fire and attempted to use a fire extinguisher to put out the flames. When they were unable to break the safety glass, they retrieved a chair and successfully accessed the extinguisher.

Inside the emergency room, the victim described the events leading up to the attack. She stated that she and Bubel had been in their apartment, preparing dinner when he doused her with gasoline from a plastic bottle and set her on fire.

Police Chief Maxine Monte annonced at the November Regular City Council Meeting that former GPD Police Chief Marty Vigil was involved in the capture and arrest of Bubel. Monte said that Vigil was in the Albuquerque area and had seen Bubel. Vigil quickly notified Monte and they confirmed that it was, indeed, Bubel. Monte then notified Albuquerque Police Department who arrested Bubel.

Bubel is scheduled for arraignment on December 14 at the Grants District Court.