Photo Source BCSO
At approximately 7:30am on August 19, 2022, Bernalillo County Deputies responded to a stabbing that occurred in the open space area near 2nd St and Woodward Rd SW. The caller informed dispatchers that they observed a male suspect dragging a woman into the canal. The witness first confronted the suspect and then the witness took several photographs of the suspect. The suspect then fled the area on a scooter. Bystanders that were in the area helped remove the female victim from of the canal area and led first responders to the assault scene.
Assault Location (Google Maps)
When BCSO Deputies and Bernalillo County Fire Rescue (BCFR) arrived, they provided medical aide to the victim and then she was transported to a local hospital. The victim is a 70-year-old female and she reportedly suffered multiple stab wounds. According to numerous social media posts from friends, the victim was reportedly in critical condition yesterday. Thankfully her condition has improved and today, she is listed in stable condition. According to BCSO, the victim sustained additional injuries, which indicated that she was also the victim of a sexual assault by the suspect.
As the assault incident occurred, a small fire was phoned in to 911. It was reportedly on a trail that was just south of the assault scene. Witnesses who saw the suspect lighting the fire described seeing the same male suspect from the assault scene. Investigators later determined that the fire was started just before the attack, but the fire had matured to a noticeable size before it was reported. The suspect mentioned during an interview with investigators that he lit the fire. BCFR and wildland fire units were able to fully extinguish the fire.
Both Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office and Albuquerque Police Department (APD) responded to the area in the search for the suspect. Later in the day, at approximately 5:30 pm, APD was dispatched to a possible sighting of the suspect near the 1700 block of 2nd St SW. Following a foot pursuit with APD officers, the suspect was detained. The suspect was found to be in possession of a knife and other items related to the assault.
Arrest Location (Google Maps)
The offender was identified as 19-year-old, Reginald Hall. Based on witness interviews, the victim’s statement, and evidence that was found on Hall when he was arrested, Hall was placed under arrest. Hall has been charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, criminal sexual penetration, and kidnapping.
It should be noted that there are numerous comments on both the ABQRAW Facebook page and BCSO’s Facebook page about the alleged suspect terrorizing other victims, mostly women, in this vicinity over the last few months. The suspect has reportedly chased other women while they were running or walking on the trail or near Ventana Ranch, but thankfully they were able to get away from the suspect or other bystanders intervened. In a separate incident, the suspect allegedly assaulted an employee at a Dollar Tree Store and as he fled the Dollar Tree Store, he then tried to harass a woman and her young daughter at an ATM. According to a comment on BCSO’s Facebook page, “Cops couldn’t or wouldn’t do anything about the assault” and they declined to arrest the suspect in the Dollar Tree Store assault and ATM incident. It is unknown which law enforcement agency is being referred to.
Photo Source BCSO