APD SWAT Officer Involved in Deadly Crash Near Isleta Pueblo

Isleta Pueblo –

An APD officer was involved in a fatal crash on a state road on Isleta Pueblo land on Thursday. The officer was responding to a tactical activation in Albuquerque.

We have learned the tactical officer was responding to assist detectives in Albuquerque who were attempting to arrest a suspect of a criminal investigation. The crash occurred in the area of NM 47 and Isleta Lakes Rd. on Thursday afternoon. The driver of the other vehicle died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. The officer was not injured.

The Albuquerque Police Department did not immediately confirm the crash happened even after we had asked for additional information. A request for confirmation was sent to APD at 8:29 AM on Friday. APD’s Director of Communications Gilbert Gallegos did reply at 9:05 AM that he was “verifying facts” and would “put something out shortly.” The department did not issue a news release with details until 11:23 AM.

When asked whether the officer was responding with emergency equipment (running code) to Albuquerque and where the tactical activation occurred, APD Director of Communications Gilbert Gallegos said in an email, “It wasn’t a full blown SWAT call out yet. Tactical officers were responding to assist ISU detectives in Albuquerque.”

The New Mexico State Police are investigating the crash. We will update this story if and when we hear back from NM State Police.