MENU
SEARCHTaos County (N.M.) District Attorney Donald Gallegos has decided not to pursue charges against a New Mexico State Patrol officer who opened fire on a van during a wild traffic stop and pursuit last month.
Taos County (N.M.) District Attorney Donald Gallegos has decided not to pursue charges against a New Mexico State Patrol officer who opened fire on a van during a wild traffic stop and pursuit last month.
"[Additional] information could come in, but at this preliminary stage, what I've viewed and what I've reviewed I don't see any criminal charges against any of the officers," Gallegos told KASA TV.
In late October Officer Tony DeTavis pulled over Oriana Farrell for doing 71 mph in a 55 mph zone south of Taos. Dash cam video shows the officer and the motorist arguing over the citation, the motorist driving away when the officer went back to his car, the officer stopping Farrell again and attempting to arrest her, Farrell’s 14-year-old son assaulting the officer, back-up officers arriving, Trooper Elias Montoya opening fire on the van as Farrell drives away again, and finally officers taking Farrell into custody in front of a Taos hotel.
Farrell was arrested for child abuse, fleeing, and possession of drug paraphernalia—two marijuana pipes police claim she had in the minivan. Her son was charged with battery on an officer and resisting arrest.
Gallegos says he fully intends to pursue the case against Farrell and her son.
NMSP is investigating the actions of the officers.
In Montoya's State Police report, he says he was shooting at the left rear tire of the van to keep it from fleeing.
The Colorado State Patrol, after analyzing its 2025 struck-by incidents, identified one area for improvement: using traffic cones to provide advanced warning before the cruiser's location. Here is the agency’s final data.
Read More →
Streamlight has recognized the 144th Marketing Group as its 2025 Sales Rep Agency of the Year Award for the Law Enforcement market.
Read More →Streamlight has recognized the 144th Marketing Group as its 2025 Sales Rep Agency of the Year Award for the Law Enforcement market.
Read More →
The mission of the Jorge Pastore Foundation is to support first responders through essential training, stronger community engagement, and mental wellness resources, all accessible and funded through donations, sponsorships, and foundation-led fundraising. It works closely with Team Wendy in the discussions about developing better protective gear for officers.
Read More →
Patrol work hasn’t changed—but the expectations on officers have. See how one police chief helped officers get the right information at the right time, improve patrol visibility, and strengthen trust without adding complexity or surveillance. This real-world story shows how patrol-driven technology can make the job safer, smarter, and more effective—starting on day one.
Read More →
What if Level I retention didn’t require a full duty rig? Safariland’s Solis delivers trusted ALS security in a streamlined OWB platform built for administrative and plainclothes professionals who need protection without the bulk.
Read More →
Real-world scenarios show that a tracking canine can detect and follow a human track several hours after it was made.
Read More →
In this video, we get a look at the latest law enforcement boots from Garmont Tactical, both for men and women. Kyle Ferdyn, sales manager, showcases four of the latest boots.
Read More →
With the commercial availability of Avon Protection’s EXOSKIN-S2, users now have increased options for their protective suit requirements across the spectrum of CBRN threat environments.
Read More →
Versaterm has acquired Aloft, an FAA-approved Unmanned Service Supplier (USS) that specializes in real-time airspace intelligence and flight authorizations.
Read More →