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Category: Front Page News Front Page News
Published: 18 July 2014 18 July 2014

By ROGER LANSE

On Thursday, July 17, at approximately 7 a.m., Silver City Police Department officers were dispatched to a residence in the 3300 block of Little Walnut Road in reference to a home invasion complaint.

A caller to the Grant County Regional Dispatch Authority advised that her 81-year-old sister had just called to report there was a male intruder with a gun in her home.

 

After officers arrived three minutes later, they surrounded the home on the north and south sides, and observed a male subject running south in an open field. As officers pursued the subject, later identified as Jeff L. Rivers, 31, of Rodeo, they noticed an unknown object in his right hand. Officers ordered Rivers to stop and drop the unknown object, but Rivers continued to run from the officers jumping three barbed-wire fences, crossing Little Walnut Road, and entering a ditch on the west side of the 3100 block of Little Walnut Road.

SCPD officers advised an assisting Grant County Sheriff's Department deputy that Rivers was right below the deputy in the ditch. The deputy took Rivers, who was wearing black and green gloves and a black mask over his face, into custody. A search of his person turned up a knife and two flashlights.

The victim told officers she was lying down in bed when Rivers appeared in her bedroom door. He was wearing a black mask and holding a dark pistol. She said Rivers told her to sit down in the living room and that he would not hurt her as long as she didn't move. Rivers asked the victim, "Where are your weapons?" The victim said she didn't have any weapons.

When Rivers went into the bedroom, opening drawers and closets, the victim went to the kitchen phone, called her sister, and apprised her of the situation.

When officers arrived, Rivers yelled at the victim, "You called the cops," and left running out the south door. The victim told officers she was missing two $20 bills, a cell phone, three necklaces, and a ring and pendant valued at about $3,000.

Rivers was arrested by SCPD officers on charges of aggravated burglary; felony larceny; false imprisonment; resisting, evading or obstructing an officer; and probation violation.

Several officers and deputies remained three to four hours in the area, which was described as very rough and covered with tall grass, trees, rocks, cactus and other vegetation, searching for the gun, which was not located.

Rivers was transported to the SCPD for booking, then to Gila Regional Medical Center for a medical clearance, and then to the Grant County Detention Center.

Rivers is being held at the GCDC on a $35,000 bond cash or surety.