WEEKEND EDITION SUNDAY,JULY 28,2019 Inside: Clovis $1.50 siblings Anya and Maya Hammond are getting set for their next journey together on the UNM swim team. — Page 1B Vol. 91 ◆ No. 34 SERVING CLOVIS, PORTALES AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES EasternNewMexicoNews.com One dead, others hurt in Portales incident ❏ District attorney Investigators with the Roosevelt outside the city of Portales. shooting took place mere feet from Saturday afternoon. County Sheriff Office, in conjunc- District Attorney Andrea Reeb the city line at his neighbor's resi- Hailer said he saw the body of a says people were tion with the 9th Judicial District's declined to confirm the identity of dence across the road on the 500 young man on the ground in front Major Crimes Unit, were "inter- the deceased or name victims and block of East 18th Street, just west of the house Saturday morning and ‘shot and stabbed.’ viewing persons of interest" in con- referred questions back to Parker. of its intersection with South pointed to what he said were blood- By David Grieder nection with the incident, Sheriff She said people were "shot and Kilgore Avenue. stains still in the dirt. He said he STAFF WRITER Malin Parker told The News on stabbed" and that there were sever- Hailer and two other neighbors picked up empty bottles leftover [email protected] Saturday morning. al individuals involved. Attempts said there had been a gathering that from the festivities while police Parker said he was notified on Saturday by The News to inde- night of young people and that the worked at the scene in the morning, PORTALES — One person was "around 3:30" of the shooting and pendently confirm victim identities residents there had only been at the and pointed out cars still parked at killed and others injured in an inci- declined to share further details as through family members and house the past month. None of the scene that afternoon from the dent early Saturday at a residence to the identities of those involved friends were unsuccessful. them knew who lived there, and just outside Portales. or the location, except that it was Bill Hailer told The News the nobody was inside the house SHOOTING on Page 8A FLOUR MILL BLAZE Police identify officer in shooting ❏ Officer Jesus Sarabia discharged weapon during July 6 standoff. By David Grieder STAFF WRITER [email protected] CLOVIS — The New Mexico State Police on Thursday identified the police officer who discharged a weapon during a July 6 standoff. Officer Jesus Sarabia has been with the Clovis Police Department for three years. Sarabia was back on full duty June 10 after spending three days on adminis- trative duty. He discharged his weapon, officials said, in response to Damon Smith, 42, brandishing a weapon during a two-hour Staff photo: Kevin Wilson standoff that began around 5 p.m. July 6. The Clovis Fire Department battles a blaze at the Old Flour Mill near the intersection of Gidding and First Street Saturday after- Police were called to a report of a noon. Clovis Fire Department officials said they expected to battle the fire into the evening, but did not believe there were any domestic disturbance with shots fired on injuries or deaths at press time. The blaze damaged a power pole outside an Xcel Energy substation, leading to power outages the 2700 block of Wallace Street. Smith was released last week on a for nearly 2,000 customers around the Clovis downtown area. $5,000 appearance bond. He faces charges of aggravated assault upon a peace officer with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault upon a household member with a deadly weapon, contempt Building sale, beer garden approved of court and resisting, evading or obstructing an officer. ❏ Red Door Brewing instances. soon after he’s able to designate helping people with substance In an interview with NMSP investiga- In regard to the Levine’s build- an off-site brewer distribution addictions. tors, Smith “stated the rifle did fire one Company involved ing, Red Door managing mem- license for the area. That will be Regarding the art festival, rep- round into the floor of the living room” ber Matt Biggs said his plans for addressed in a future commis- resentative Scott Knauer said and that he “Smith eventually stated he in both items. the open facility are to use it sion meeting, and require a vari- 300 people were interested in the intended on using the rifle on himself.” about half of the week as a out- ance because the building is event online so far with 16 Smith’s wife told investigators he fired By Kevin Wilson door taproom and let the com- within 300 feet of the Potter’s artists, yoga and zumba classes that gunshot while she was in the rest- EDITOR munity use it the rest of the time House church. and a pair of musical acts. room of the house and that he “was test- [email protected] as a place to either relax or bring That was one of the issues The beer garden would have ing the firearm.” Smith told NMSP offi- their lunch downtown. Elliott had with the brewery set- meet state requirements with a cer Justin Tiemann and Chester Bobbitt CLOVIS — A pair of events “I wouldn’t be coming back if ting up on Main. He said he fence of at least 3 feet and that he was carrying a “.22 bolt action involving one of Clovis’ newest we weren’t having a smashing heard about security concerns enclosed with one entrance/exit. rifle” and “did stand in the hallway lead- businesses drew some opposi- success,” Biggs said. “I’ve felt during a previous event on Main Biggs said staff would either do ing out to the front door with the rifle tion, but in general won support very welcomed by the public; we Street with Red Door. Biggs said ID checks upon every entrance down by his hip.” from the Clovis City have been very busy.” he’d never been approached or issue some kind of bracelet. Clovis Police Sgt. Travis Loomis told Commission after discussions Red Door was second on the about any concerns during or “If security is lacking,” Biggs NMSP investigators that during the about whether alcohol belonged list for bidders for the property, after that event. said, “we won’t serve.” ensuing police response “he did hear Mr. at certain places and certain and moved up to first when Mayor David Lansford said he Following the meeting, Elliott Smith say if officers came into his house, functions. Foote/Hyder withdrew its inter- would like some kind of claw- felt people could have soft drinks he wanted suicide by cop,” according to By separate 5-1 votes, the est. Clovis MainStreet Executive back provision in the contract, at the festival and still have fun an arrest warrant affidavit. commission approved the sale of Director Lisa Pellegrino-Spear given the city and Clovis at the festival. Attorney C. Barry Crutchfield, listed the Levine’s building on the 400 said she’s seen the property get MainStreet have worked for 13 In other business at the in court records as representing Smith, block of Main Street and allowed plenty of foot traffic even with- years to get the building in its Thursday meeting: did not return a message last week from a beer garden for the Aug. 6 out any vendor present. current shape. Biggs said he had ■ The city approved polling The News. Under Over Art Festival in “The place has got a lot of no issue with a clawback provi- places for the March 3, 2020 CPD Capt. Roman Romero did not Hillcrest Park. Both events charm,” Pellegrino-Spear said, sion, and the commission voted municipal election. respond last week to a request for inter- involved Red Door Brewing “even if from a technical eye we to approve the sale contingent on Voters, regardless of district, views with the department and/or Company, which is don’t see it that way.” addition of a provision. can cast ballots at Colonial Park Sarabia regarding the incident. Albuquerque-based but has The property comes at a Elliott said after the meeting it Golf Course, the Youth According to Thursday’s release and established a location inside $5,000 cost to Red Door, and wasn’t right for Potter’s House Recreation Building, Roy previous releases from the NMSP: Mainline Bowl. Biggs believes he’ll be able to to have to be so close to a place Walker Community Center, ■ Five officers were initially on scene, Commissioner Gary Elliott recoup the cost and generate that serves alcohol, given how cast the dissenting vote in both gross receipts taxes for the city much of its work goes towards CLOVIS on Page 8A STANDOFF on Page 8A Forecast: Today Monday Tuesday Index Calendars ....................2A,6B Sunday Reader ................8B Reach us at: High: 94 High: 94 High: 95 Classified ....................9-10A Obituaries..........................7A (575) 763-3431 Life ................................3-5B Sports ............................1-2B Low: 64 Low: 63 Low: 66 Voices ............................4-5A PAGE 2A ✦ SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2019 LOCAL THE EASTERN NEW MEXICO NEWS Area meetings FRUIT SPILL Monday 1085 Blue Hole Road, Santa Rosa. ■ Public meeting for input on Annual meeting. Information: 575- the 2021-2025 City of Clovis 762-7714 Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan (ICIP) — 10:30 Thursday a.m., Friendship Senior Center, 901 ■ Clovis City Commission — W. 13th St., Clovis. Clovis residents 5:15 p.m., North Annex, Clovis- are encouraged to participate. Carver Public Library, 701 N. Main Copy of the current ICIP may be St., Clovis.