GRANTS, N.M. – A family dispute in Grants, New Mexico, resulted in the detention of a juvenile on Sunday, November 20, 2023. The incident, which began as a call for assistance, led to multiple interactions with law enforcement officers and medical personnel.
Around 12:57 a.m. on Nov. 20, Officer Steven Shutiva, while on patrol, received a call from Cibola Regional Dispatch instructing him to proceed to 417 Jensen Street. The caller, identified as Salvador Ramirez, reported that his grandson was intoxicated and fighting with him and requested the juvenile's removal. Officer Shutiva arrived at the scene at approximately 1:06 a.m.
Upon arrival, Officer Shutiva encountered a male subject wearing a black hoodie, the officer was able to identify the male as Ramirez’s grandson. Josiah was found standing near the roadway without shoes and displaying signs of intoxication. Officer Kyle Saavedra also arrived on the scene to assist.
According to the report, Ramirez sounded intoxicated and expressed his desire to have his grandson, removed from the property due to their ongoing dispute. Officer Shutiva approached the juvenile to discuss the possibility of going to his grandmother's residence. According to the report, the juvenile became confrontational and used offensive language.
Despite Officer Shutiva's attempts to diffuse the situation, the juvenile allegedly refused to cooperate and expressed a preference for juvenile detention. He was placed in the rear seat of a Grants patrol car. During this time, Officer Shutiva overheard arguing inside the residence.
The juvenile’s father, Joshua Ramirez, was seeing exiting the residence and agreed to take custody of the juvenile. However, the juvenile allegedly continued to be uncooperative and disrespectful towards his father. Eventually, Officer Shutiva transported the juvenile to the Grants Police Department for further processing.
Officer Shutiva attempted to contact the Juvenile Probation Office to learn the juvenile’s probation status, but encountered difficulties due to technical issues. According to the report, GPD determined the juvenile would be detained for Disorderly Conduct due to his highly intoxicated state and the confrontation with his grandfather. He was transported back to his residence at 417 Jensen Street, where Joshua Ramirez took custody of him.
Later that morning, at approximately 2:37 a.m., Officer Shutiva received another call from Cibola Regional Dispatch to check on a male subject at the Allsups Convenience Store on Nimitz Drive. The subject was reported to be injured and appeared to have been involved in a physical altercation.
Upon arrival, Officer Shutiva met with a store clerk who indicated that the injured male subject was the juvenile Officer Shutiva dealt with just hours earlier. The juvenile was found wearing only basketball shorts, without a shirt or shoes, and allegedly still displayed signs of intoxication. Officer Shutiva decided to take the juvenile to Cibola General Hospital for medical observation rather than detaining him.
The juvenile was later discharged from the hospital at around 3:40 a.m. with a medical clearance for incarceration. Officer Shutiva returned him to his father's residence at 417 Jensen Street. The juvenile's father, Joshua Ramirez, confirmed that he would take responsibility for his son.
A report of the incident will be forwarded to the Grants Juvenile Probation Office and the 13th Judicial District Attorney's Office for potential charges.