Deputy, suspect in shooting identified
Robbery, carjacking attempt led to chase on Halloween
The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office has identified the deputy and the robbery suspect he shot and injured following a chase that ended in Downtown Albuquerque last week.
BCSO spokeswoman Felicia Maggard said deputy Paul Montoya shot Miguel Ruiz, 27, Halloween night.
Maggard said Ruiz is recovering at a hospital and will be booked on federal charges once he is released. She did not specify what charges Ruiz is facing.
“The investigation is ongoing,” Maggard said.
Citing the federal investigation, Maggard would not say how many times Montoya fired his weapon, how
many times Ruiz was hit and if he was armed.
Around 9 p.m. Oct. 31, deputies say Ruiz pulled armed robberies back-to-back in the South Valley before leading deputies on a chase.
Deputies used a spike belt to deflate one of Ruiz’s tires and the pursuit ended Downtown after Ruiz crashed near Seventh and Central.
Deputies say Ruiz ran from the wreck and tried to carjack someone when Montoya shot him.
Maggard said Montoya has been with BCSO since 2011 and this was his first shooting.
“Deputy Montoya was initially placed on standard administrative leave and has returned to full duty,” she said.
BCSO has shot and injured four people so far in 2018. Last year, deputies were involved in nine shootings — killing five people and injuring three others.