Lawsuit claims Santa Fe police locked up wrong man

Phillip Armijo is suing Santa Fe police for false arrest, claiming an officer had him locked up on a warrant issued for his dead brother, despite Armijo’s efforts to prove they had the wrong man.

The state District Court complaint says Officer Anthony Currey arrested Armijo on March 8, 2016, on a warrant for his brother, John K. Armijo, who died in December 2013. It does not specify the nature of the warrant.

Phillip Armijo tried to prove his identity to the officer by providing a valid New Mexico driver’s license bearing his name, his Social Security card bearing his name and his Santa Fe Community College identification card bearing his name, the suit says. Currey nonetheless handcuffed him, took him to the Santa Fe County jail, and booked him, according to the complaint, which says he remained behind bars for two days until District Judge T. Glenn Ellington ordered his release.

Greg Gurulé, Santa Fe police spokesman, said in an email Tuesday, “The Santa Fe Police Department and City of Santa Fe do not comment on pending, threatened or active litigation.”

In addition to the city and the officer, Armijo is suing Santa Fe County and Warden Derek Williams, claiming false arrest, false imprisonment, constitutional violations and negligence.

Kristine Mihelcic, Santa Fe County spokeswoman, said the county does not comment on lawsuits.