By: ABQRAW staff
Posted: 12/31/2023 @ 4:45PM
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Albuquerque – Last night an APD officer and a scumbag in a stolen/embezzled car encountered each other at the Adam Market at the southwest corner of Pennsylvania and Central. Both the officer and lowlife were injured by gunfire during the encounter. APD released more details today in a statement that detailed what happened.
APD identified the officer who was shot Saturday by a suspect who was in an embezzled vehicle at the Adam Market in Southeast Albuquerque. Officer Zachary Garris suffered injuries during the encounter to both hands as a bullet struck him while holding his department-issued firearm.
Physicians at the University of New Mexico Hospital performed surgery overnight on Officer Garris. Garris, who has been with APD since 2020, is expected to be released from the hospital today.
“Our officers put themselves in harm’s way because they care about the community they serve,” Chief Harold Medina said. “Officer Garris didn’t hesitate to do his job. We are grateful Officer Garris will recover from his injuries and we are prepared to support him during his recovery.”
“Officer Garris and his family are in our thoughts today, and we are thankful he is recovering,” Mayor Tim Keller said. “We appreciate his commitment and sacrifice to keep Albuquerque safe.”
APD also released the identity of the suspect who shot Officer Garris. We learned as we mentioned last night that Santiago Perez, 29, is a convicted felon who is on parole for an armed robbery conviction. Perez has a parole warrant for his arrest. State and federal prosecutors are reviewing Saturday’s shooting to determine additional charges.
Perez is accused of shooting Officer Garris during an encounter Saturday night at 8:20 p.m. at the Adam Market, located at 7817 Central Ave., N.E.
As Officer Garris started his graveyard shift Saturday night, he was alerted by APD dispatch about a 2014 Acura that was spotted on an automated license plate reader with a stolen license plate in the area of Central Ave. and Louisiana Blvd. Officers located the vehicle a few blocks away, parked in the west end of the lot at Adam Market. Officers developed a plan to conduct a felony stop at the market. They turned on their emergency lights and sirens and approached the vehicle with lethal and less-lethal weapons.
Officers issued commands for Perez to turn off his vehicle and exit. Perez immediately fired shots, striking Officer Garris. Perez, still armed with a handgun, attempted to flee on foot, running eastbound along the front entrance to the market and toward Pennsylvania Ave., where several homeless individuals were standing. A second officer announced his presence and told Perez to drop his gun. Perez continued to run toward the crowd and the officer fired his handgun two times, striking Perez in the arm and the leg.
Perez was placed in handcuffs as rescue personnel arrived to transport him to the hospital. His injuries are not considered life-threatening.
APD went on to say that over the next several months, APD will continue to investigate and analyze this incident. Detectives will continue interviewing any new witnesses that come forward and complete any forensic tests. After the investigation is complete, APD’s Force Review Board will forward the findings to the Superintendent of Police Reform to determine if this incident met the high standards of the Albuquerque Police Department. The Multi-Agency Task Force will forward its case to the District Attorney’s Office to make any determination of criminal charges.