Albuquerque Journal
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — An Albuquerque police officer and another man were wounded in an early morning shootout Wednesday after a domestic dispute at a Northeast Albuquerque apartment complex, authorities said.
Officer Eric Martinez, who has been with APD for 5½ years, was shot in both legs, Police Chief Ray Schultz said. After he was shot, Martinez fired an undetermined number of times in the direction of the vehicle in which 22-year-old John Santiago was riding. One of the officer’s bullets struck Santiago in the face.
Martinez was released from Presbyterian Hospital on Wednesday afternoon, Schultz said. He is expected to make a full recovery.
Santiago remained at University of New Mexico Hospital on Wednesday in stable condition.
Officers went to the apartments around 1 a.m. in response to an earlier domestic dispute involving Santiago’s brother, Joseph, and Joseph’s girlfriend, Schultz said.
While they were conducting their investigation, a car drove through the parking lot of the complex and John Santiago allegedly opened fire with a shotgun, Schultz said. Joseph Santiago and Johnny Cortez, 19, also were in the car, police said.
The vehicle left after Martinez returned fire, the chief said.
Officers followed the car about two miles to 12th and Summer NW, where it finally stopped, he said. Police arrested the three men and charged them with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and shooting from a motor vehicle.
Wednesday’s incident was the seventh offi- cer-involved shooting of 2009, police said. There were five last year, 11 in 2007 and two in 2006.
John Santiago has a criminal history that includes auto theft and larceny charges and at least two probation violations, Schultz said.
“This is what we’ve been talking about where property crime offenders become violent crime offenders,” he said. “Obviously, this guy made that leap with this incident.”
The chief said he plans to go over safety measures with his department in the wake of officers being shot recently in Washington state and California.
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