[NM] Really aggravated, scary and sad stalking charges against Columbus Police Officer Valenzuela

...Columbus police officer Robert Valenzuela was indicted Tuesday morning after he allegedly sent his 24-year-old ex-girlfriend a picture of himself with the barrel of his duty weapon in his mouth...

MESILLA MARSHAL'S DEPUTY HAS BEEN FORMALLY CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED STALKING.
Las Cruces Sun-News
Posted: 12/29/2010
A former Mesilla marshal's deputy has been formally charged with aggravated stalking. Robert Valenzuela, 28, a Columbus, N.M., police officer, was indicted Tuesday morning after he allegedly sent his 24-year-old ex-girlfriend a picture of himself with the barrel of his duty weapon in his mouth. Ruidoso attorney J. Robert Beauvais claims Valenzuela had received more than 100 text messages from the woman in the weeks before he was charged. The sheriff's office had said Valenzuela was sending the woman unwanted text messages, showing up at her workplace and had sent her two disturbing images: a photo of a hand full of white pills, and one that appears to show Valenzuela with his lips around his Glock 19, finger just off the trigger, the sheriff's office said. [LINK]

LAST SEPTEMBER:

DOÑA ANA COUNTY SHERIFF’S ACADEMY TO GRADUATE 16 CADETS
Doña Ana County News
Sep 29, 2010
9/29/2010 10:52am
[Excerpts] The Doña Ana County Sheriff's Department will graduate its 13th law-enforcement academy this Friday, April 11, at an invitation-only ceremony in the Doña Ana County Government Center... Robert Valenzuela of Mesilla Park will graduate and serve in the Mesilla Marshall’s Office... [Full article here]

FROM NOVEMBER:

FORMER MESILLA MARSHAL'S DEPUTY MAY SUE DASO
Las Cruces Sun-News
Posted: 11/03/2010 1:00 AM
[Excerpts] A former Mesilla marshal's deputy facing a charge he stalked his ex-girlfriend has signaled his intent to sue the Doña Ana Sheriff's Office for publicizing the incident... The sheriff's office had said Valenzuela was sending the woman unwanted text messages, showing up at her workplace and had sent her two disturbing images: a photo of a hand full of white pills, and one that appears to show Valenzuela with his lips around his Glock 19, finger just off the trigger... Valenzuela graduated from the law enforcement academy in 2008, joining the Mesilla Marshals, and followed former Mesilla Marshal Vega to the Columbus Police Office in 2009. At the time, Valenzuela was pending a charge of drunken driving, which was dismissed in January on appeal... [Full article here]

COLUMBUS PD ASSIGNED NEW CHIEF
The Deming Headlight
Kevin Buey
Nov 24, 2010.
[Excerpts]...Mayor Eddie Espinoza, Monday, placed on paid administrative leave Chief Angelo Vega, Deputy Robert Valenzuela and Village Treasurer Imelda Aguayo... The Valenzuela case stems from a September accusation of stalking an ex-girlfriend. Valenzuela, with the Mesilla Marshal's Office before being hired by Vega -- himself, the former Mesilla Marshal -- was accused of leaving his former girlfriend text messages, repeatedly calling her and appearing uninvited at her workplace after their April parting. It was alleged in September that Valenzuela emailed the woman photos showing a hand with numerous pills and a man pointing a handgun into his mouth. Valenzuela also had a prior driving under the influence and careless driving caSe after a 2008 motorcycle accident, but it was dismissed. Vega said in September, following the allegation involving the ex-girlfriend, Valenzuela was on leave from the Columbus Police Department... [Full article here]

THIS MONTH, EARLIER:

VILLAGE OF COLUMBUS POLICE DISBANDED
KTSM
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
[Excerpts] The police department in Columbus, New Mexico is in disarray again. In fact, the problems are so bad, the entire police force has been disbanded... The mayor of Columbus refused to answer our questions about what happened to the police force. The building that used to house the Columbus police force is empty, has been stripped of its logos... [Full article here]
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