BY: ABQ RAW staff
POSTED: 02/03/2024 @ 10:45AM
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Albuquerque –
In a late-night incident on February 2, 2024, tensions flared at the Thur Pa Lounge inside Sandia Casino. Apparently a banned patron, identified as Michael Macias, 40, of Albuquerque, engaged in a heated confrontation with casino security and law enforcement officers.
At approximately 11:15 PM last night, a Sandia Casino security officer notified local police of Macias’s presence at a blackjack table. Macias had been previously banned from the premises. When approached by security, the situation escalated rapidly.
According to a criminal complaint, Macias vehemently protested the escort to the Casino Security Office, unleashing a barrage of profanities at the officers. Alarmed patrons in the vicinity bore witness to the escalating confrontation. Macias further heightened tensions by adopting a fighting stance and raising his fists toward the security officers, prompting the intervention of local police officers.
Sandia Police officers approached Macias, who continued to hurl derogatory language, including offensive slurs at them. Macias then hurled a drink at officers and then also a hot cup of coffee. The liquid struck both officers on their face and arm and landed on the other officer’s upper body and face.
With the assistance of several security officers, a struggle ensued as the police officers sought to place Macias under arrest. Despite Macias’s resistance, they successfully managed to handcuff him and escorted him out of the casino. However, Macias continued to resist physically, creating a chaotic scene in front of onlookers just trying to gamble their life savings or worries away.
During a subsequent search of Macias, law enforcement discovered a Taser and a box cutter in his jacket pocket, raising concerns about the potential danger he posed. Macias also emitted a strong odor of alcohol from his person, indicating his possible intoxication.
Both officers involved in the confrontation also incurred injuries, with one officer suffering a deep scratch on the hand, and the other sustaining several scratches to the back of the head. Additionally, an inventory search revealed $450 in cash and $262.50 in casino chips, all of which were subsequently returned to the casino due to Macias’s prior ban.
Macias was charged with two felony counts of aggravated battery on a police officer, a misdemeanor count of criminal trespass, disorderly conduct, and resisting an officer.