Durango Police officers and La Plata County Sheriff's deputies are currently searching for a suspect, who is described as a tall Asian male with a medium build and wearing a green jacket with fur on it. THE SUSPECT REMAINS AT LARGE AT THIS TIME. If you see someone matching the description of the suspect, call 911 immediately. DO NOT APPROACH HIM!
From Durango Police:
On January 14, 2019, at around 3:37 am, Durango Police Officers and medics where dispatched to the Iron Horse Inn for a stabbing and possible shooting that had just occurred. The suspect fled the scene prior to officers arrival. When officers arrived, they located a male victim bleeding profusely from the leg. Officers applied a tourniquet to the victim's wound and paramedics transported him to Mercy Regional Medical Center where he continues to receive emergency treatment.
Durango Police officers and La Plata County Sheriff's deputies are currently searching for a suspect, who is described as a tall Asian male with a medium build and wearing a green jacket with fur on it. THE SUSPECT REMAINS AT LARGE AT THIS TIME. If you see someone matching the description of the suspect, call 911 immediately. DO NOT APPROACH HIM!
If you have any information about this incident, call Detective Brad Roach at 970-375-4738 or non-emergency dispatch at 970-385-2900. We would like to thank the La Plata County Sheriff's Office, Durango Fire & Rescue, an the staff at Mercy Regional Medical Center for all of their assistance with this incident. Due to the ongoing investigation, we are unable to release any further information at this time. Updates will be released when available.
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.