An Artesia man had additional charges added to his arrest Thursday after attacking the officers attempting to take him into custody.
Hector J. Hernandez, 26, was being investigated for shoplifting around 4:30 p.m. Thursday when he provided officers with what they knew to be a false name.
When the officers questioned his identity, Hernandez ran. Officers gave chase, and a struggled ensued, during which one officer was kicked in the chest and another struck.
Hernandez was ultimately taken into custody on the charge of shoplifting and additional charges of concealing identity and battery upon a peace officer. He was also discovered to be wanted on a municipal court warrant for failure to appear.
Cmdr. Lindell Smith of the Artesia Police Department reported Friday that the APD officer injured in the struggle was doing well. An Eddy County Sheriff’s Office deputy was also involved and suffered unknown injuries.
