Española police chief leaving post after two indictments issued

Charges include child abuse, battery

ESPAÑOLA — The Española police chief, who was indicted late last week on charges of battery, child abuse and witness intimidation, is retiring, according to city Human Resources Director Sally Baxter.

Baxter said Monday that Chief Matthew Vigil’s retirement will be effective Sept. 1, but he will no longer be employed if Mayor Alice Lucero appoints a new chief before then.

Several attempts to reach Lucero on Thursday were unsuccessful.

Vigil, who had been deputy chief, was appointed to the police chief position in May after former Chief Richard Gallegos retired.

The grand jury’s indictments were issued Thursday in a state District Court in Taos.

All Taos District Court judges have recused themselves from overseeing Vigil’s case, according to court documents, so the state Supreme Court will now designate a judge.

One of the Taos County indictments charges Vigil with two counts of intimidation of a witness, one count of abuse of a child not resulting in death or great bodily harm, and battery against a household member for an Oct. 30 incident.

In that case, Vigil, 41, is accused of threatening his wife and one of their children, telling them not to talk to police in connection with alleged domestic violence.

The Taos Police Department reports released to Journal North say Vigil was served by Taos County deputies with an order of protection filed by his wife. She wrote in her filing that Vigil “threw multiple items at me striking me in the face and lip” about 1 a.m. on Oct. 30. The report also says a Taos officer went to the Vigil residence while the woman gathered her belongings.

The second grand jury indictment refers to a March 31 incident in which Vigil allegedly threw a pair of shoes at his daughter at a Taos store. In this incident, he is charged with abuse of a child not resulting in death or serious injury and interference with communications.