EL PASO, Texas — Santiago Pacheco, a New Mexico State Police officer and sergeant with the National Guard, was arrested on Tuesday, April 8, for the theft of National Guard equipment in Las Cruces. Pacheco faces charges of larceny and conspiracy to commit larceny, according to the New Mexico State Police.
The investigation began on March 13 after a theft occurred at the New Mexico Army National Guard facility, located at 249 N. Armory Road in Las Cruces. The State Police Investigations Bureau determined that Pacheco and another soldier had been involved in the theft during a “sensitive item inventory” in February and March. The pair allegedly stole three pairs of night vision goggles from the facility.
Pacheco was arrested and booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center. He was placed on standard administrative leave with the New Mexico State Police.
New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler expressed his disappointment, stating, “I am extremely upset by the arrest of one of our officers. We are held to the highest standards, and those who cannot meet those standards do not belong in this agency.”
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have emphasized their commitment to holding officers accountable, even when it involves arresting one of their own.
