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Category: Front Page News Front Page News
Published: 12 May 2020 12 May 2020

By Roger Lanse

On Monday, May 11, 2020 at about 8:03 a.m., a Silver City Police Department officer was dispatched to 3078 32nd Street Bypass to the Children, Youth, and Families Department in reference to a criminal damage to property complaint. When the officer arrived he found a window had been broken with a large rock which lay several feet away.

According to a police report, the officer also observed two traffic citations, issued to an Amanda Schottmuller, 36, of Tijeras, New Mexico, taped to the front door glass with the words, "Take care of this trash." To the left of that was a COVID-19 warning on which was written profanity directed at an individual. A blue cardboard box addressed to a Las Cruces law firm had been left in front of the main door. As it was unknown what the contents of the box were, the officer treated it as a bomb, the report said, and the New Mexico State Police was contacted.

When NMSP officers arrived the building was evacuated, a perimeter set up, and the box opened, which contained some children's clothing, a pastry, a religious candle, and a book on Mary Queen of Scots, according to the report. Other officers collected a shell casing, a can of Mace, the box with contents, and the citations for entry into evidence.

The window was estimated to be valued at $300. Charges are pending further investigation.