San Rafael woman arrested
Accused of striking cop with purse and hand

By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — A 26-year-old San Fidel woman faces a fourth degree felony charge of battery on a police officer.

Tracie Vallo, of a post office box in San Fidel, could serve up to a maximum of 18 months in state prison, be fined up to $5,000 or both, if prosecuted and convicted of the alleged crime.

She has a preliminary hearing on Tuesday in Cibola County Magistrate Court before Judge Manuel Lujan.

She was placed in custody on a $5,000 cash surety bond, in the Cibola County Detention Center following her arrest on March 25.

Nearly 30 minutes into the morning on March 25, Grants police were called to Motel 6 at 1505 E. Santa Fe Ave., in response to an intoxicated male who was fighting with security personnel, according to magistrate court records.

Cpl. Salvador Corral located the man on the second floor balcony of the hotel and was trying to keep him and a woman there until backup officers arrived, court records state.

As Corral kept the attention of the pair, another Grants police officer, Sgt. Gilbert Gonzales, approached from behind and noticed the woman, who was later identified as Vallo, take something from the male and place it in her purse concealing it from police, court records state.

Grants police Lt. Maxine Spidle said the item was money. It was not confiscated, she said.

When Vallo was asked what she placed in her purse she screamed, "None of your (expletive deleted) business," according to court records.

She was again asked what she placed in her purse resulting in Vallo throwing her purse at Gonzales, striking him in the chest with the back of her hand and hitting him with her purse simultaneously, court records state.

Vallo was immediately arrested and booked into the detention center.

Spidle said when battery of a police officer is involved there is usuallly alcohol or some other type of impairment with the individual.

Vallo bonded out of the detention center on March 27.

To contact reporter Jim Tiffin, call (505) 287-2197, or e-mail: jtiffin.independent@yahoo.com.