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Category: Front Page News Front Page News
Published: 10 September 2018 10 September 2018

By Roger Lanse

According to a Silver City Police Department incident report, an officer was dispatched to Gila Regional Medical Center on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018, at about 4:46 a.m., in reference to an aggravated battery. The Grant County Sheriff’s Department, had previous contact with the male, identified as Joseph Chavez, of Santa Clara, in Hurley prior to the incident on an overdose on heroin call, where Chavez refused treatment. The Grant County Regional Dispatch Authority advised that Chavez had left the scene in a white Chrysler 300.

According to the report, the victim stated GRMC security guards were waiting outside for Chavez because they knew an overdose patient was possibly en route from Hurley. The victim stated when Chavez arrived he was in the back seat of the Chrysler which was being driven by a female. The report said Chavez refused to get out of the vehicle. Suddenly, according to the victim, Chavez jumped from the back seat into the driver’s seat and tried to leave in the vehicle.

Because Chavez was under the influence of heroin, the victim said he reached inside to try and put the vehicle in park to prevent Chavez from leaving. The victim said Chavez grabbed onto his arm as he was driving away and the victim fell while the vehicle was moving.

A SCPD patrolman spoke with the victim, a security guard at GRMC, as he was being treated by GRMC staff in the emergency room and observed numerous cuts and swellings on the face of the 58-year-old victim.

The case has been forwarded to the district attorney’s office for review and possible charges.