Two SWAT Situations End Peacefully

Valerie Palombi, 25, Deandre Smith, 27, and Lamar Watts, 21, were all arrested after two separate SWAT activations.  

Officers were dispatched about 06:30 a.m. to the area of Iliff Rd and 68th street near I-40 due to a female identified as Valerie Palombi, who was reported to be armed with a gun.  Officers arrived and located Palombi who was observed to be carrying a firearm in her hand.  The female was located on the walking path which went over the I-40 freeway.  Palombi told police she wanted to harm herself and showed signs of mental instability.  During this time morning rush hour traffic was thickening and due to Palombi's armed threat, officers were concerned for the welfare of passing motorist.  These circumstances deemed the call a SWAT Call and I-40 was shut down in both directions for the community's safety.  Crisis Negotiators were on scene and continued to speak to Palombi.  Palombi became upset during a conversation and threw her cellphone which ceased contact with CNT officers.  A robot was used to safely take Palombi another phone in an attempt to maintain contact with her.  Palombi suddenly made quick movements towards officers while armed with the firearm.  SWAT officers utilized less lethal tools in order to gain compliance of Palombi and were able to safely take her into custody.  Palombi was arrested for violating her probation from a robbery in Roswell.  

At about 7:30 p.m., officers were dispatched to an attempted robbery that occurred at the Wendy's located at 4800 Menaul Blvd.  The Air Support Unit was able to follow the vehicle the subjects were seen leaving the scene in.  The vehicle eventually crashed and the suspects ran into a nearby apartment complex in the area of Southern and Pennsylvania.  The subjects barricaded themselves inside an apartment and refused to follow police commands to exit.  Due to the subjects actions the call was deemed a SWAT Call.  Eventually the two suspects identified as Deandre Smith and Lamar Watts, exited the apartment and were taken into custody by police.  

Smith and Watts were arrested for Residential Burglary, Aggravted Eluding, and Possesion of a Controlled Subtance.  Detectives are still working to possibly connect them to other crimes.  

We want to thank the community for their patience and cooperation during these two incidents.  The SWAT officers concluded both these situations peacefully and safely removed three dangerous suspects from the streets of Albuquerque.