MILAN, N.M. – The Village of Milan Police Department recently discovered a missing Texas woman in Cibola County. After speaking with the woman, they determined that she had left Texas on her volition due to family arguments, and was not in danger. In the State of New Mexico, going missing is not a crime, and MPD did not have cause to hold her or send her back. Near the end of August, around 3:30 p.m., Cibola Regional Dispatch informed MPD that a woman was having mental problems on West Street. Milan Police Department has made significant strides over the past several months to increase their positive response to mental health crises, by adding chaplain assistance and phone call programs to help residents understand that they are not alone in struggling with mental health. Sergeant Joe Galindo arrived on West Street, finding the woman dressed in a pink sweater and black sweatpants. The woman was crying and visibly upset. After a short conversation, the sergeant learned the woman’s name was Lucy Rivas.
Rivas said that she was in the Milan area to see her father, but the two had entered some type of argument. According to a police report, Rivas was out searching for her cousin’s house, where she was told she could stay. Sgt. Galindo offered to help find the missing house, but was informed by a bystander that Rivas was suffering mental health issues and was a registered missing person.
Sgt. Galindo went to his vehicle, working to confirm the address of Rivas’ cousin and to check the National Crime Information Center for whether the she was actually a missing person. Sure enough, when her name was run through the system, she was registered as missing by the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office in Fort Worth, Texas. Sgt. Galindo verified that Rivas really was the missing person. He was able to confirm this by comparing the tattoos listed on NCIC, most notably, a joker tattoo on Rivas’ left eye and mouth. According to the report, Rivas had recently been involved in a family altercation in Grants, but the local police department did not run the fake name she gave them for verification.
MPD contacted the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office and confirmed with them that Rivas was arrested and missing. Rivas’ aunt had filed the missing person’s complaint, and told the sheriff’s office that she was likely in Alabama, looking for a ride back to Texas. Rivas informed Sgt. Galindo that she was aware she was a missing person, but that she left because “She left to get away from her aunt, who was waiting to for her to die or kill her, to cash out,” according to the police report. Rivas informed MPD that she was homeless recently hanging out in Alabama, and just came to visit her family but her dad did not want to take her in. Rivas said that she did not need any medical attention. MPD found a phone number for Rivas’ cousin, who said she would be out of town for several days. Upon hearing this, Rivas decided that she wanted to be alone. Having committed no crimes, she could not be held by the police, and was released on her own recognizance as she is a grown adult showing no signs of self-harm.
New Mexico’s laws meant that there was nothing to be done on the law enforcement side. New Mexicans struggling through mental health are encouraged to call or text 988, the mental health hotline. Veterans can dial 988 and the number 1 after the call starts for specialized mental health treatment.