APD Open Space Conservation Officers Arrest Armed Violent Individual in the Foothills

ALBUQUERQUE – Officers with APD’s Open Space Conservation Unit arrested a violent armed individual in an open space area of the Foothills.

On February 2, 2023 Open Space officers were meeting with the civilian Open Space Division at the Singing Arrow Community Center when they noticed a man sitting along the trail. As the man was hunched over, officers went to check on him and he then took off running.

When the officers searched the area where the man had been sitting, they located drugs and a firearm which was run through NCIC. With the assistance of officers from the Foothills Area Command, they located the male, identified as Steven Montoya, 38, and placed him in custody. Following a search, officers located additional drugs on Montoya that tested positive for Methamphetamine.

Montoya has a lengthy criminal history including both violent and property crimes. Montoya was booked on an outstanding felony warrant for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, as well as Receiving/Transferring a stolen firearm, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Resisting/Evading/Obstructing as well as Unlawfully carrying a firearm in Open Space lands.

APD has openings for additional Open Space Conservation Officers with a $15,000 hiring bonus. Learn more at this link.

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