Las Cruces woman accused of pointing gun-like lighter at four people at park
A Las Cruces woman faces four felony charges after police say she pointed a gun-like lighter at four people at La Llorona Park.
Police say Mia Belmontez used a torch lighter designed to resemble a firearm during confrontation at La Llorona Park
Damien Willis, Organ Mountain News
LAS CRUCES - A Las Cruces woman is facing four felony charges after police say she pointed what appeared to be a firearm at four people during an incident Wednesday afternoon at La Llorona Park.
Mia Belmontez, 30, is charged with four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the April 1 incident at the park along West Picacho Avenue.
According to a criminal complaint, Belmontez pointed a torch lighter designed to resemble a firearm at three park rangers and a fourth city worker, presenting it as if it were a real gun.
Investigators say all four victims believed the object was a firearm and feared they would be shot.
The incident began as an argument between Belmontez and her girlfriend, who had gone to the park to cool off.
Police say Belmontez exited a vehicle holding the lighter, which appeared to be a gun, and began pointing it at others in the area.
One victim reported Belmontez said, “Give me my hat or I’ll shoot you,” while another said she pointed the object in his direction while saying, “What, what.”
Authorities say Belmontez left the park after realizing the individuals she confronted were not law enforcement officers.
She was later stopped by officers near Picacho Avenue and taken into custody.
Belmontez remains jailed at the Doña Ana County Detention Center, where she is initially being held without bond. She is also facing a misdemeanor charge for failure to appear.
Belmontez was already facing charges stemming from a February incident at a Las Cruces Dollar General, where she is accused of battering two people during a public altercation.
In that case, she was released on her own recognizance with conditions that included avoiding contact with alleged victims, not possessing firearms or dangerous weapons and not using or possessing illegal drugs.
Damien Willis is founder and editor of Organ Mountain News. If you have a personal story to share or a lead we should follow up on, reach out at OrganMountainNews@gmail.com or connect with him on X at @damienwillis.
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