By Roger Lanse
A Santa Clara Police Department officer was called to the 400 block of Mineral Street around 3:13 p.m., on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, in reference to a disturbance. The manager of the Bayard Housing Authority, Jolene Dominguez, stated Joseph Russo, later determined to be 63, of Santa Clara, was creating a disturbance and not allowing the maintenance worker, Johnny Lopez Jr., 32, of Bayard, to perform the lawn work.
According to a Santa Clara Police Department incident report, Dominguez also stated that Russo hit Lopez in the stomach and had pushed a 72-year-old female while she was attempting to move her vehicle as requested by Lopez. Lopez confirmed both of Dominguez' accounts.
While attempting to talk with Russo, the report said, officers stated he was incoherent, argumentative, and using offensive language in front of, not only the officers, but other neighbors, and had a strong odor of alcohol emanating from his person. Russo was ultimately cuffed by the officer although he resisted by not complying with the officer commands. Another unit was requested to allow Russo to be lifted from the ground and placed in a patrol car.
Russo continued to be verbally abusive while being processed at the station. He was charged with battery; resisting, evading, or obstructing a peace officer; and disorderly conduct, and booked into the Grant County Detention Center.
GCDC staff told the Beat, Russo was released on his own recognizance Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024.
