Suspect Arrested after Home Invasion

As the homeowner retrieved his personal protection firearm, he heard the crack and crashing of a nearby bedroom window breaking, where one of the suspects entered the home. The male’s face was still covered by a mask and he was armed with a handgun in his left hand. He pointed the handgun at the homeowner and told him he was going to, “take all his (expletive).” The homeowner, defending himself with his shotgun, pointed it at the suspect in a brief standoff. The homeowner was then able to knock the gun out of the suspect’s hand and wrestle him to the ground where he detained him until Deputies

From the San Juan County Sheriff's Office:

Date: June 29, 2016 - San Juan County, NM -

On 06/22/2016 at approximately 9:06 pm, Deputies responded to a Home Invasion in progress on County Road 5211, West of Bloomfield. Deputies arrived to find one of the suspects detained by the homeowner.

During the initial investigation, Deputies learned the homeowner and his wife returned home approximately 30 minutes prior to the invasion. The homeowner and his wife heard a vehicle drive up to the driveway and someone running to the front door. When he opened the door, the homeowner was confronted by two male subjects in masks who tried to push their way into the home. The homeowner was able to defeat the subjects at that point by closing and locking the door.

As the homeowner retrieved his personal protection firearm, he heard the crack and crashing of a nearby bedroom window breaking, where one of the suspects entered the home. The male’s face was still covered by a mask and he was armed with a handgun in his left hand. He pointed the handgun at the homeowner and told him he was going to, “take all his (expletive).” The homeowner, defending himself with his shotgun, pointed it at the suspect in a brief standoff. The homeowner was then able to knock the gun out of the suspect’s hand and wrestle him to the ground where he detained him until Deputies arrived and took the suspect into custody. The handgun used by the suspect was seized and determined by Deputies to be a BB-gun.

The male suspect was later identified as 21 year-old Gabriel Aranda of Farmington. He was booked into the San Juan County Detention Center on charges of: Aggravated Burglary; Assault with Intent to Commit a Violent Felony; Battery and Criminal Damage to Property.

Aranda’s accomplice fled in a rust or red colored truck or SUV and remains at large. If you have any information regarding this crime and Aranda’s accomplice, please contact Detective Slindee at 505-334-7732. To give information anonymously, call San Juan County Crime Stoppers at 505-334-8477.