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From the report of Officer Matthew Dollar, lightly edited for clarity: On July 14, 2021, I responded to Young Park in reference to an assault. Central dispatch advised that a male individual poured a beer on another individual and then also tried to fight a second individual at the park after a verbal altercation.
Officer Marvin Kelley made contact with the first individual, who I learned did not wished to pursue charges for the battery when the beer was poured on him.
I learned that the suspect, later identified as Joel Arredondo, got into a verbal argument with a Jose Garcia, and I was advised by another individual at the park that the male we were looking for was sitting in an area that was just northeast of the parking lot.
I made contact with this individual and identified him as Joel Arredondo. I learned that Mr. Arredondo was not from Las Cruces or New Mexico that he was passing through from Colorado.
When I asked him about the incident that occurred, he denied knowledge of any altercation or incident with any person in the park.
I then mentioned an incident where he poured beer on an individual and argued with someone else, and Mr. Arredondo referred to an individual that he got into an argument with who that was harassing the ducks with his dogs.
At this time, a male approached me identified as Jose Garcia. He had two small dogs with him. Mr. Garcia asked if he could speak with me. Mr. Garcia was upset and stated that the male that I was speaking with, Joel Arredondo, had assaulted him.
Mr. Garcia stated that he was at the park talking with the ducks that his dogs were with him when he was approached by the individual and was threatened. Mr. Garcia stated that Mr. Arredondo threatened him in Spanish, threatening him to fight him and calling him and his dogs names while threatening to harm his dogs.
Mr. Garcia stated that Mr. Arredondo closed distance on him with his hands raised and in an aggressive fighting stance and that he felt threatened. Mr. Garcia stated that he wished to pursue charges for the assault.
I obtained his information and advised him he was free to go. I then questioned Mr. Joel Arredondo again about the incident who stated that he was also threatened by Mr. Garcia that he was just defending himself.
I advised Mr. Arredondo that a summons would be issued in reference to the assault. I advised Mr. Arredondo that it would probably be in his best interest if he left the park at which point, he did so.