By Roger Lanse

On Monday, June 13, 2022, at about 10:58 a.m. a Bayard Police Department officer received a report from the Bayard Animal Control Officer of a domestic disturbance occurring on Coffey and Pearl streets.

The ACO told the officer that while he was chasing a white pitbull, the dog entered the streets of Coffey and Diamond, and he noticed the suspect yelling at a female and saying, "Your (sic) going to call the f*****g police?" The report stated the ACO advised that the suspect then jumped on the hood of the vehicle. The ACO further stated when the vehicle stopped at the corner of Coffey and Pearl streets, the suspect got off the vehicle and punched the driver side window.

According to a BPD incident report, when the officer arrived on scene, he observed Andres Vigil, 30, of Bayard, who the officer knew from past criminal cases, run inside an apartment. As the officer approached the apartment, a witness stated her daughter and the boyfriend were arguing and the daughter drove away in a silver vehicle. At this time, the daughter in the silver vehicle returned and parked by the officer's unit.

The daughter stated about 20 minutes earlier, she and Vigil were in a verbal argument and he put his hands around her neck and choked her. She advised, the report said, that she was able to get away from her boyfriend and when she was driving away Vigil jumped on the hood of her car and when he got off her car he punched the driver's side window and she saw a black handgun inside his waistband. She further stated Vigil still had the weapon when he ran into her mom's apartment.

Shortly after, the report stated, Vigil came outside to talk with the officer. When the officer asked him why he ran inside, Vigil stated he always runs from cops. Vigil stated, according to the report, that he and the victim had a verbal argument and she tried running him over. Vigil denied choking the victim, hitting the car, or having a weapon.

According to the report, the officer then received permission from the female who lives in the apartment to go inside and search for the weapon. At this time a Grant County Sheriff's Office deputy arrived to assist in the investigation by staying with Vigil while the officer searched for the weapon. A female witness told the officer where to find the weapon. The officer located a small black pistol in a drawer of the bedroom dresser, the report stated. The weapon had two 9mm cartridges in the magazine and one in the chamber, the report said. The firearm was determined not to be stolen.

 Vigil was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and assault against a household member and placed under arrest. Vigil was booked into the Grant County Detention Center, according to GCDC staff, at 2:28 p.m., June 13 and released by Judge Grijalva at 1:28 p.m. the following day under a $5,500 unsecured bond.