West Mesa High locked down

Fight over a battered child forced police seeking a suspect to take the step

Police say a family fight over a battered child spilled onto the property of West Mesa High School Tuesday afternoon and led to the school being locked down until officers made an arrest.

Albuquerque police spokesman Simon Drobik said officers made a sweep of the high school and have one suspect in custody.

“This event today is stemming from an event last night,” he said.

Drobik said it started around 9 p.m. Monday when a mother brought her 2-year-old daughter to the hospital with “horrific injuries.”

He said the mother reportedly found the child with a broken leg and bruises after leaving her in her boyfriend’s care.

Drobik said two women were waiting for the boyfriend when he showed up to his apartment north of West Mesa High School Tuesday.

“When he returned home, the family members started chasing him,” Drobik said. “That chase went through West Mesa High School.”

He said the school resource officer called APD and the campus was put on lockdown while police searched for the suspect.

Drobik said they found that suspect within 15 minutes and reopened the school.

“This was a scary situation for everyone involved because we locked down a school,” he said. “We had to search the whole school to make sure it was safe.”

Drobik said the man, whom he did not identify, may face additional charges of trespassing.

He said the man will face felony charges relating to the child abuse and possibly trespassing charges for running onto school property.

Drobik did not know if the two women who chased him will also face charges.