Farmington police responded to two burglaries over the weekend and apprehended suspects in both cases. The incidents took place on Friday, February 19. Police were dispatched to a residence on Marseille Boulevard in reference to a burglary and later officers were called to a burglary alarm at the Radio Shack on East Main Street.
From Farmington Police:
Farmington police responded to two burglaries over the weekend and apprehended suspects in both cases. The incidents took place on Friday, February 19. At approximately 4:20 p.m. officers were dispatched to a residence on Marseille Boulevard in reference to a burglary. The reporting party advised officers that he had left his home in the morning and when he returned he found that someone entered his residence and took his firearm. A witness informed officers that he saw the suspect acting suspicious outside the home and went over to confront him. The suspect became aggressive toward the man and threatened him before leaving. The witness was able to identify the suspect as a 16-year-old male who also lives in the area. Officers made contact with the suspect in a vehicle where the stolen firearm was recovered.
The suspect was arrested and charged with aggravated burglary, retaining stolen property, unlawful possession of a handgun by a person less than 19 years of age, resisting an officer, assault and criminal damage to property. He is being held at the San Juan County Juvenile Detention Center.
At approximately 11:20 p.m. officers were dispatched to Radio Shack on East Main Street in reference to an alarm. The first officer arrived on scene and found several glass doors and a window had been shattered. He looked inside the building and saw an individual pulling items from one of the shelves. Additional officers arrived on scene and set up a perimeter around the building.The suspect exited the store carrying a bag full of merchandise.
The suspect was identified as 20-year-old Kelsey Collins from Kirtland. Collins was arrested and charged with criminal damage to property, breaking and entering, larceny and burglary. She is being held at the San Juan County Detention Center on a $10,000 bond.
AirCare 3 is a Pilatus PC-12 Legacy. It joins AirCare 1, a Bell 429 twin engine helicopter, and AirCare 2, a Pilatus PC-12 NGX, all owned by San Juan Regional Medical Center and operated by Air Methods.
The San Juan County Extension Service Building project is one of 14 projects funded by $13 million recovered in New Mexico’s 2022 settlements with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA contractors, and mining defendants for injuries to natural resources resulting from the August 2015 Gold King Mine blowout.
The (Four Corners Freight Rail) project aligns with the selection criteria by enhancing resilience and improving system and service performance, as the project will provide a viable freight transportation modal alternative to highway trucking, opportunities to simplify the supply chain, and enable new, rail-dependent economic development opportunities thereby imparting benefits to the Navajo Nation and surrounding communities.
The victim is a 12-year old boy who died of apparent stab wounds. A second victim, believed to be the suspect’s mother, sustained injuries from a blunt object attack and is being treated at CommonSpirit Mercy Hospital in Durango. The names of the victims are being withheld as the investigation is ongoing.
The incident was reported by a motorist who was involved in a single vehicle accident shortly after 7 a.m., believed to have been caused by the suspect as he fled the residence on Snowy Peaks Way. Deputies discovered the scene when they arrived to investigate the accident.
Andrew Wittenberg has been charged with aggravated burglary, larceny of a firearm, two counts of first-degree murder, and tampering with evidence. The investigation is still ongoing, and more information will be provided as it becomes available.