Man accused of kicking officer at Las Cruces library faces pretrial detention request
A Las Cruces man is accused of kicking a police officer during an incident at Thomas Branigan Memorial Library. Prosecutors have requested he be held in jail pending trial.
Prosecutors say 31-year-old posed a danger to the community after alleged incident at Thomas Branigan Memorial Library
Damien Willis, Organ Mountain News
LAS CRUCES - A Las Cruces man accused of kicking a police officer during an incident at Thomas Branigan Memorial Library is facing a request from prosecutors to remain in custody pending trial.
Francisco Jesus Juarez, 31, is charged with battery upon a peace officer, along with multiple additional charges including assault on a peace officer, criminal trespass, disorderly conduct, concealing identity and resisting, evading or obstructing an officer, according to court records.
According to a statement of probable cause, officers were dispatched around 3:44 p.m. March 18 to the library at 200 E. Picacho Ave. after reports that Juarez was harassing staff members and patrons. Library staff asked him to leave due to a violation of the facility’s code of conduct.
Officers made contact with Juarez and escorted him outside the building. While outside, Juarez grabbed a black hoodie and began waving it in a circular motion, telling officers it was a “bat” and running toward them, according to the report.
After officers placed Juarez in custody and walked him to a patrol unit, he kicked an officer in the leg, according to court documents.
Prosecutors have filed a motion seeking Juarez’s pretrial detention, arguing that no conditions of release would reasonably protect the safety of the community. The motion cites Juarez’s criminal history, including multiple recent arrests and prior cases involving assault on law enforcement officers.
Court filings state Juarez has been arrested five times in the past four months and was facing a pending case involving battery on a peace officer at the time of the incident. Prosecutors also noted that Juarez is unhoused and argued he is unlikely to appear in court if released.
A hearing on the state’s motion was scheduled to be held Tuesday morning before District Judge Conrad Perea. Perea's decision on whether Juarez will remain in custody pending trial was not immediately available when this story was published.
The case remains pending.
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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