ARTESIA — An Artesia man was arrested last week after attempting to steal copper wire from a local business.
According to the criminal complaint, Artesia Police Department (APD) officers were dispatched around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24, to Deans Inc., 409 Commerce Road, in reference to a breaking and entering in progress. Upon arrival, a male subject later identified as 34-year-old Carlos Ylario Renteria of Artesia was observed inside a fenced area with rolls of copper wiring around his neck.
Police alerted Renteria to their presence, at which time he jumped a fence and began fleeing on foot. He eventually fell and, after a brief struggle, was taken into custody. The complaint states he continued to resist while being walked back to a patrol unit.
Renteria also reportedly began yelling to unknown individuals to “keep running and not stop.” He later informed officers that another male and a female had been with him at the business. An APD Facebook post made after the incident stated the other two individuals were not located.
A search of the scene yielded a large pair of bolt cutters at the business’ back fence and Renteria’s vehicle, which was located down the street and contained a variety of tools.
Renteria was charged with commercial burglary; resisting, evading or obstructing an officer; and criminal trespassing. He was released on a $5,000 bond and is scheduled for preliminary examination at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, before Judge Jimmy C. Foster in Artesia Magistrate Court.
The APD urges anyone with information regarding the incident or the identities of the individuals who fled the scene to call 575-746-5000.
