Front Page News

Frost McGahey, Investigative Journalist

On March 20, 2020, Paul Collins was speeding down Hwy. 180 when he was stopped by a Silver City Police Officer. He had been doing 90, but when the officer caught up to him, he was doing 42 in a 35-mph zone. During the stop, the officer found methamphetamine. Collins also had no insurance and no registration and was also charged with DWI.

Collins had been under surveillance for a month by a drug task force agent. The agent had been driving to Collins's home to investigate drug activity when he spotted Collins leaving and turned around to follow him to Hwy 180. As Collins was driving so fast, the agent couldn't keep up with him as he was in an unmarked car. He called Silver City Police to warn them that Collins was driving recklessly.

William Glenn Von Hoff when he served in World War IIWilliam Glenn Von Hoff, three days after his 98th birthdayBy Mary Alice Murphy

[Editor's Note: Although this author didn't get to interview him on his birthday, she interviewed him a few days later. The veteran's son, Allan, called from Tennessee to let the Beat know about his father turning 98. He got the phone number from the Silver City clerk. Thank you, Alfred Sedillo.]

William Glenn Von Hoff is a recent resident of Silver City who celebrated his birthday on March 19.

[This is the second of a series of articles on the Grant County Commission meeting on March 12, 2024.]

By Mary Alice Murphy

The second presentation at the March 12, 2024 Grant County Commissioner work session came from Valerie Zech, the Grant County Community Health Council coordinator.

"I'm here to give you the quarterly update for the Health Council," Zech told the commissioners. " I just want to say what a great opportunity this is to work with the community. I love my job."

She noted the commissioners had the Grant County Community Health Needs and Assets Assessment that was done from July to December 2023, as well as the current Grant County Community Health Council (GCCHC) capacity building scope of work.

By Roger Lanse

Friday, Mar. 15, 2024, at approximately 10:22 p.m., Bayard Police Department officers were dispatched to 225 Erie Street in Bayard in reference to a 55-year-old male caller advising his roommate was threatening to cut his head off with a knife. Arriving at the residence, officers knocked on the door and made contact with a male, later identified as Christopher Sturdevant, 56, who aggressively swung the door open and began cursing at the officers.

According to a BPD incident report, the suspect refused to identify himself saying the victim had told him "to get the f*** out." The suspect continued to refuse to identify himself, and after officers gained entry into the residence, he ran up the stairs, despite being given multiple commands to stop and walk toward the officers. Unable to see if the suspect was clear of any weapons, a taser was deployed, the prongs striking the suspect's left arm and thigh. At that point, the suspect was handcuffed and identified. Sturdevant was placed under arrest, charged with resisting, evading, or obstructing an officer and concealing identity.

By Roger Lanse

Ten Grant County Sheriff's Office deputies and detectives, four EMS personnel, and an OMI employee, responded at various times to 97 Quail Run in the Wind Canyon area on Sunday, Mar. 10, 2024, in reference to a medical call received about 11:14 a.m. The Grant County Regional Dispatch Authority advised that the an adult male and an adult female are saying, "Ow," a 5-year-old female is unresponsive, and a 7-year-old male has pain in his legs. Deputies first arrived at the address at approximately 11:19 a.m.

[This is the first of a series of articles on the Grant County Commission meeting on March 12, 2024.]

By Mary Alice Murphy

Grant County Commissioners heard three presentations at the March 12, 2024 work session.

The first presentation came from the High Desert Humane Society president Heidi Ogas. She gave the annual report for the Grant County Animal Shelter, which is run by the HDHS..

By Roger Lanse

Sunday, Mar. 10, 2024, Grant County sheriff's Office deputies were dispatched to 23 H.L. Watkins Road, Silver City, at about 5:45 p.m. in reference to an unwanted subject call. A male had been reported squatting on their property for an hour and refusing to leave, although now he was reported leaving.

By Roger Lanse

On Monday, Mar. 11, 2024, at about 9:01 p.m. a Silver City Police Department officer was dispatched, while patrolling, to the Food Basket at 1220 N. Hudson Street in response to an unwanted subject call. The officer was told by the Grant County Regional Dispatch Authority, the male, reportedly, had consumed beer without paying for it and was refusing to leave. Arriving at the location, the assistant manager of the business directed the officers to the store's restroom where they observed a male inside without a shirt and wearing jeans.