The Piercing Truth

This is right from the dictionary and seems to describe Albuquerque, Berry and Schultz. Fascism (f ash ,izem) noun An authoritarian right wing system of government and/or social organization. (in general use) extreme right wing, authoritarian, chauvinistic and/or intolerant views or practices. Fascism tends to include a belief in the supremacy of one group over another, national, ethnic, especially social strata or monetarily; a contempt for democracy, an insistence on obedience to a powerful leader, and a strong demagogic approach. Compliments of one of our Eyes

Mar 17, 2008

Hit and Run

We normally don't do stories about traffic accidents. Let's just say that they're all too common and none too interesting. However, when the accident involves a city vehicle and an elected official then the incident grabs our attention.

Sunday, March 9th APD's 911 dispatch received a call from an irate citizen who claimed that they had just witnessed an accident involving a parked car and a city vehicle at 2nd and Marquette. The driver of the vehicle got out, took a look at the damage and drove away. What had this caller upset was that they recognized the driver of the city vehicle as none other than the Almighty Alcalde himself - Mayor Martin Chavez.

According to our Eyes, Marty's bodyguard Sergeant Louie Sanchez was contacted about the crash who brought in another officer - Sergeant Apodoca - to supervise the investigation. When contacted about the crash the mayor allegedly admitted that he had hit another vehicle but claimed that there was no damage so he left the scene. Field Investigators were dispatched to the scene and apparently to the mayor's home in order to collect photographs and information. After the reports were written, Commander Paul Romero showed up to collect the reports and we assume the photos.

There are a few questions that need to be asked. First of all, why was the mayor's bodyguard involved? Our understanding is that he wasn't with the mayor when the accident occurred otherwise he would have been driving. Second, why did Commander Romero show up to collect the reports? Sunday is normally the Commander's day off and we have a hard time believing that the Commander normally shows up to collect reports pertaining to minor traffic crashes - even in the case of a hit and run. More importantly, our Eyes tell us that this isn't the first time that a high ranking officer showed up to collect police reports involving the Almighty One.

It seems that the mayor's crash warranted special attention from APD brass - and perhaps that's as it should be. After all the mayor is the city's top law enforcement official. If the intent here is to gather evidence in order to prosecute a sitting mayor for leaving the scene of an accident (a misdemeanor) then we've got no problem with the special attention. However, if the intent is to find a way to shield The Almighty One from the press and from prosecution then we've all got a real problem.

It really doesn't matter that the mayor hit a parked car (unless of course he was impaired in some way). What does matter is that he chose to leave the scene. If as the mayor maintains, there wasn't any damage done it's still incumbent upon an elected official driving a city vehicle to notify the police and the owner of the parked vehicle and to wait for the police to arrive. We should expect a higher standard from our elected officials especially since your average city employee would be terminated for leaving the scene of an accident involving a city vehicle.

Our Eyes believe that this thing will simply disappear. Perhaps we've grown a bit cynical ourselves because we wouldn't be at all surprised if they were right. However, in this case there's a witness who's none too happy about the mayor's abrupt departure and doesn't have a stake in covering it up.

The law applies to everyone including and perhaps especially sitting mayors. It may have been a minor crash but it speaks volumes about the character of a man who is currently trying to change the rules in order to run for a third consecutive term.

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

violation of the city's take home car policy -- he loses his car for 30 days for not reporting and leaving the scene. Ok everybody hold your breath and wait for that to happen!

Anonymous said...

Oh Brother, get a life. Have any of you numb nuts ever heard of a station report? How do you know that the Mayor didn't call & was advised to follow up with his staff on a station report?

Anonymous said...

Watch the cover up on this one. The fact Paul Romero was there proves it is true. Got your spin meter running overtime john. A word to the wise: I WOULD NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE COVER UP WE ALREADY KNOW WHO WAS THERE. We also know that king marty name was taken off the report. Better start rewriting guys. Lets see tmapering with public records, ask Ben Kibry.

Anonymous said...

He called the police when he got home or what? What idiot leaves the scene of an accident...hmmmm, someone who has been drinking, on drugs, people leave the scene when they are hiding something.

Anonymous said...

Did he take a drug test in accordance with city policy after an auto accident???

Anonymous said...

You know he was drinking or he would not have left! I smell a cover up starting, especially if the commander came out. He covered up his family fight the same way.....Let see if the paper writes a good story or if the report gets lost.

Anonymous said...

No one is going to buy theat station report B.S. Did the Mayor leave his info for the other driver, I think not. If not, it's a hit and run. His CAO had a hit and run before a few years back and it was kept way low. Seems these govt officials have a habit of hit and runs. what's the reason?

Anonymous said...

How many times does this go on with this Mayor. Over the last few years it's been quite a few.
Why wasn't he give a sobriety test?
Oh, was that a stupid question?
The nespaper and TV news people read this blog; why aren't they investigating and writing about it?
Oh, I'm sorry, another stupid question.

Anonymous said...

It's OK for the mayor to go out drinking.
"You drink,you drive, you loose", except if you're Marty Chavez

Anonymous said...

drug test prob wouldnt apply -- it was an unattended veh. obviously no injury

Anonymous said...

Since there was a doubt and they called everyone out; why wasn't a traffic unit call out to investigate? Why wasn't a DWI officer called out?

Oh that's right, Marty the midget
AKA Mr. DWI and Mr. Domestic Violence is immune since he has Ray Ray in his back pocket.

We need true leadership, rather it be a dem, a rep or a green. This little turd needs to be flushed!

Anonymous said...

spreading hate and discontent are we. I was at the call and saw the 42. You all are spreading false information just like you did with Ron Olivas and the APOA. Marty was not in a hit and run. Another smear tactic. what a bunch of horseshit.

Anonymous said...

Second post...ok YOU numb nuts. City take home car policy clearly states that there are certain procedures that must be taken when a vehicle is involved in an accident, damages or not. F/I must be called, traffic officer, if working, or supervisor must be called, etc... The Mayor continues to be running the show. Will anyone have the balls to stand up and say this isnt right. Whats sad is his little bodyguard possee... they have sold their soles as well. No integrity....Cant we as a city impeach Marty?????

Anonymous said...

All I can say is I wish I had one of those free cars, gas is expensive! That is one SWEEEET incentive! I would even report it if I crashed cause I wouldnt care its not like i'd be paying to fix it.

Anonymous said...

Sgt Sanchez is not Marty's body guard, he is Marty's personal police dept!

If a cop would have left the scene, they would have his/her ass.

Anonymous said...

Dear smear tactic: Prehaps YOU would explain why there was a top secret meeting held in prince rays office. Everyone there was told if this leaks out , whoever leaks it will be fired. The corruption at A.P.D. makes me sick. The controlled media is just as bad.

Anonymous said...

"can't we as a city impeach Marty???"





no

Anonymous said...

didn't brandon wilcox leave the scene? didn't they fire him and his girlfriend? nice...

Anonymous said...

Several years ago right after the Station 20 opening. Marty left after his speech, using the same excuse "that his children were waiting for him".

He rear ended a stopped vehicle on south bound Wyoming at the Paseo Del Norte light. He had the fire chief, "Balless Ortega", come pick him and his misbehaved dog up and was wisked from the scene.

I saw it. He never got out to check the driver he hit. When Ortega showed up he & the Dukes got out and took off. He left his SUV there with the flashers on.

I would have reported it if I didn't fear retaliation. Who knows what happened to the victim. Maybe a pay off??

Anonymous said...

I'm not suprised of the cover up.He's not the only one. Look at DMD City Secuirty Department they do it all the time hit and runs pick up hookers at 2nd and central go drink at knockouts these are sgts and the old body guard of mayor chavez Mark Shepherd. he's even coverd up for the mayor drinking with him at city hall. This needs to go to the Media.

Anonymous said...

Who Cares.(?)
Obviously nobody. Not in New Mexico, because this kind of behavior is the norm and acceptable. A Cultural thing. In Colorado, Texas or Arizona, he'd be run out of office on a rail.
Back ass 'Patron' bullshit. We will ALWAYS be the drunk driving capial.
So, save the adverising money against drunk driving, until the elected officials follow the law and have consequences for THEIR actions.

Anonymous said...

I feel sorry for CMDR Romero, he is in way over his head. They will fire him, look what they did to CMDR Suazo.

This place is just outta control. Lets see if TJ looks into this! Everyone says after his accident TJ is in Ray's pocket now. No units 10-8 and TJ received special treatment.

Other new people need to jump on this hit and run. Do a story with the witness.

Anonymous said...

Still just rumors and lies,,,

Anonymous said...

Yeah right, DC Castro. We see you read this blog daily.

Anonymous said...

No way. Not this time. These are NOT runmors and lies and neither were the others. These vehicle
(Gov't)altercations are an ongoing problem with this mayor. How are they going to cover up the next one, which may result in someone being seriously hurt or killed?
As for T.J.(Journal)He used to be a stand up reporter, but now, just Ray's little 'Ho'.
Get your integrity back T.J. and do what you went to college for;
Journalistic Integrity.
Please, do your job, tell the truth and Expose this criminal behavior.

Anonymous said...

To: still just rumors and lies,,,

Wow, how profound!

Anonymous said...

profound but true.

Anonymous said...

Did they give the Mayor a ticket for hit and run? I'll bet he didn't leave his required info, HIT and RUN!

Anonymous said...

"Still rumors and lies"
Tell that to a judge when you're indicted.
Oh, and another thing A-hole,; it's coming sooner than you think.

Anonymous said...

"Oh Brother, get a life. Have any of you numb nuts ever heard of a station report? How do you know that the Mayor didn't call & was advised to follow up with his staff on a station report?"

The mayor was driving a city vehicle. Per policy it needs to be photographed at the scene. And if you are going to make a station report, you need the other vehicle's information. Hard to get when the vehicle runs from the scene. Oh brother yourself.

Anonymous said...

Speaking of the fire chief. It appears his bother Ralph was involved in a DWI about a year and a half ago. He abruptly retired because he was caught DWI and conveniently got away with it. I don't think the news stations were even aware of it. Other bs going on in the fire dept.

Anonymous said...

Did not know Marty went to autobody classes too,Todays cars can get costly damage by a mere tap ,alot of times unseen by the untrained,Marty is and has always been since I knew him in high school a conman ,HE HAD A REPUTATION AS A SLEAZEBALL BY ALL THE GIRLS,THE PEOPLE OF NEW MEXICO HAVE BEEN GETTING THE SHAFT FOR ALONG TIME ,BY MARTY,TIME TO WAKE UP PEOPLE AND SEE THIS SCUMBAG FOR WHO HE REALLY IS,HE NEEDS TO BE PUT IN PRISON FOR HIS CRIMES,