On arrival, officers learned that a man, 60-year-old Jack Pryor of Farmington, was experiencing a crisis and firing rounds from several different guns in the front and back yards, and inside his home.
From Farmington Police
Sunday, September 27, 2020
Farmington police officers have one man detained after firing several gunshots from his yard and inside his home late Saturday night. Multiple calls from residents in the area of 16th St. and Farmington Ave. of shots fired were reported Saturday evening. On arrival, officers learned that a man, 60-year-old Jack Pryor of Farmington, was experiencing a crisis and firing rounds from several different guns in the front and back yards, and inside his home.
Officers set up a perimeter of the area, and the SWAT team responded. While attempting to communicate with the man, he fired a single shot in the direction of a SWAT vehicle. The round struck an object near the vehicle and injured no one. Officers spoke with the man until they detained him peacefully. He was transported to San Juan Regional Medical Center for treatment, and detectives are still investigating the incident.
The Farmington Police Department wants to encourage anyone experiencing a crisis to call 800-273-8255 or find a local behavioral health provider at newmexico.networkofcare.org.
The initial call was received at 5:23 AM. The individual was identified from video surveillance. The male was contacted by Durango Police Department Patrol and is now in custody. He has been identified as Joe Brinkerhoff, a resident of the City of Durango. Due to a prior incident, Joe Brinkerhoff was trespassed from the property and his Rec Center privileges were suspended.
After a thorough and ongoing investigation by detectives and working with the district attorney's office, a thorough review of the case was conducted, and the decision to proceed with criminal charges was made. A warrant was issued to charge Heather Fernandez-Hoefer. She was taken into custody without incident on April 1, 2025.
Upon arrival, deputies made contact with multiple individuals including juveniles and young adults and located a deceased individual identified as Samuell Tariq Liggins, age 20.
Following an extensive investigation by Farmington Police Department detectives, an arrest warrant was issued for 40-year-old Matthew Sandoval, who is known to have a family connection to Madrid, who has been charged with 1st Degree Murder and Tampering with Evidence. On March 28, Sandoval was located by U.S. Marshals in the 400 block of W. Animas. Farmington Police officers responded and arrested Sandoval on the outstanding warrant.
Invited guests will tour the temple, the afternoon of July 14, and all day on July 15 and 16, 2025. A public open house will run from July 17 to August 2, 2025, excluding Sundays.
Officers canvassed the area for the suspect; however, investigators believe the individual left the area prior to police arrival. The Farmington Police Department is releasing a video of a person of interest. The video shows a male on a bicycle headed east on Navajo Street towards Lincoln Avenue. The Farmington Police Department urges anyone with information or video surveillance from the area to contact detectives at 505-599-1068.
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