Hatch man accused of robbery, ramming victim’s car over $50 debt
A Hatch man is accused of robbing and assaulting a man over a $50 debt before intentionally ramming the victim’s Camaro and fleeing, court records show.
Police say Juan Escobedo punched and kicked the victim, took his phone, wallet and keys, then intentionally rammed his Camaro before fleeing
Damien Willis, Organ Mountain News
HATCH - A Hatch man arrested Monday is accused of punching and kicking another man over a $50 debt, taking his phone, wallet and keys, then intentionally ramming the man’s car before fleeing.
Juan Escobedo, 38, is charged with third-degree felony robbery, leaving the scene of an accident with no great bodily harm or death and leaving the scene of an accident involving damage to a vehicle.
The charges stem from a May 10 confrontation at a home on Wilson Street in Hatch.
According to a statement of probable cause filed by Hatch Police Lt. Frank Angel, the victim told police he went to the home to pay another man $50 he owed him. Escobedo was sitting in the passenger seat of that man’s vehicle when the victim arrived.
The victim told police Escobedo became upset because he did not have the money and got out of the vehicle.
Escobedo allegedly punched the victim in the face with a closed fist and kicked him while demanding the $50. The victim told police he tried to explain that he could call a relative to bring the money, but Escobedo continued demanding payment.
Police said Escobedo then forcibly took the man’s cellphone, wallet and vehicle keys and refused to return them.
The victim eventually managed to get away, according to the statement. Angel wrote that he observed blood and an injury around the man’s mouth, along with scratches on his arm.
Police say Escobedo rammed victim’s Camaro
The confrontation did not end there.
Police allege Escobedo got into a white Chrysler 300 and intentionally struck the victim’s blue Chevrolet Camaro, causing moderate to heavy damage to the driver’s-side door and front fender.
Escobedo then allegedly drove away because police were being called.
The victim recorded brief videos of the Chrysler leaving at a high rate of speed, including footage showing its license plate, according to the statement. Angel wrote that he recognized Escobedo from prior experience with him.
Angel also reported finding a damaged cellphone case at the scene and said the victim identified it as belonging to the phone Escobedo allegedly took.
A magistrate judge found probable cause and issued a warrant for Escobedo’s arrest May 11. The warrant was served Monday.
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Support Organ Mountain NewsPretrial Services recommends monitored release
A Public Safety Assessment completed Tuesday recommended Escobedo for Pretrial Monitoring Level 3, or PML 3. The assessment is used to help inform release decisions but does not determine whether a defendant will be released or what conditions a judge will impose.
The assessment lists a current violent offense and shows Escobedo has prior misdemeanor and felony convictions, prior failures to appear and a previous sentence to incarceration. It lists no prior violent convictions.
Escobedo remained incarcerated at the Doña Ana County Detention Center early Tuesday afternoon, according to jail records.
A judge had not issued a release order in the new case as of publication.
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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