Las Cruces man accused of ramming woman’s vehicle, pursuing her to police station
A Las Cruces man is accused of ramming a woman’s vehicle and following her to a police station after repeated calls and confrontations, according to court records.
Court records describe repeated calls, a confrontation at a coffee shop and a vehicle used as a weapon; prosecutors seek to hold him without bond
Damien Willis, Organ Mountain News
LAS CRUCES - A Las Cruces man is accused of repeatedly calling, confronting and ramming a woman’s vehicle before following her to a police station, according to court records filed in Doña Ana County Magistrate Court.
Prosecutors have charged Enrique S. Enriquez, 39, with two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, along with misdemeanor counts of using a telephone to threaten or harass and stalking. The charges stem from an incident Friday that investigators say escalated over the course of more than a day.
Repeated calls, uninvited contact
According to a criminal complaint, the defendant began calling the victim multiple times on April 16 and continued into the early morning hours of April 17. The contact did not stop there. Court records state he later showed up uninvited and ultimately located her at a Dutch Bros Coffee shop on North Main Street, where he pulled in behind her vehicle and began calling her again.
When the victim answered, the defendant allegedly cursed at her. After she hung up, the encounter escalated from verbal confrontation to physical contact.
Vehicle used as weapon
Investigators allege the defendant rammed the back of the victim’s vehicle twice while she was stopped in the drive-thru line, causing it to jolt forward. As the victim attempted to leave the area, the defendant is accused of continuing to follow her, pulling alongside her vehicle, cutting her off and refusing to disengage.
The victim drove toward the police station for help, but the pursuit continued. According to court records, the defendant followed her all the way to the station, where officers ultimately detained him after she arrived seeking assistance. The victim told investigators she feared the defendant might hurt or kill her during the incident.
Detention request filed
Prosecutors have filed a motion seeking to hold the defendant without bond pending trial, arguing that no conditions of release would reasonably protect the victim or the community.
A pretrial services assessment reached a different conclusion, recommending release on recognizance and noting no prior violent convictions and a low risk of failing to appear in court.
A first appearance was scheduled in Magistrate Court Monday. Because the state has filed a motion for pretrial detention, the case is expected to be transferred to District Court, where a hearing will be set to determine whether the defendant will remain in custody while the case proceeds.
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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