By Roger Lanse

On Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at about 3:39 p.m., a Silver City Police Department officer was dispatched to Harbor Freight, 214 E. Highway 180, in reference to a battery. According to an SCPD incident report, when the officer arrived, he made contact with Michael Medina, 48, of Silver City while Santos Medina, 61, also of Silver City, was being treated by EMS.

M. Medina told officers S. Medina approached him in the north end of Albertson's parking lot in an aggressive manner while holding a silver pocket knife. M. Medina said he pepper-sprayed S. Medina, because S. Medina had threatened yesterday to kill him and everyone during an incident regarding his mother. M. Medina then pursued S. Medina, the report said, to the ditch behind Harbor Freight and using a stick began striking S. Medina 'repeatedly' to get the knife away from him, M. Medina said.

At Gila Regional Medical Center, S. Medina told officers he was attacked from behind by M. Medina. Officers observed two lacerations on the back of S. Medina's head.

A witness told officers he observed M. Medina following S. Medina across the Albertson's parking lot. They were yelling at each other about an incident involving someone's mother. They then went into the ditch area behind the trees, the witness stated, and going closer, the witness saw M. Medina strike S. Medina repeatedly with a stick and heard the victim telling M. Medina to stop. M. Medina told the witness he was beating the victim because he pulled a knife out on him. The witness was unable to confirm the presence of a knife.

According to the report, due to conflicting statements, no criminal charges will be filed until camera footage is retrieved from Albertson's.