TWO ARRESTED IN CONNECTION TO A DOG ATTACK THAT KILLED A TUCUMARI MAN
Two Tucumcari people were criminally charged in the death of another resident who was attacked and killed last week by a pack of dogs.
Mary Montoya, 50, and her son Kristopher Morris, 27,were charged with involuntary manslaughter and a dangerous dog (death of a person). They were booked into the Quay County Detention Center on Wednesday after warrants were issued for their arrests. They were scheduled to appear in magistrate court at 1 p.m. Friday.
The dangerous-dog charge is a third-degree felony that can lead to up to six years in prison and up to a $5,000 fine. The involuntary manslaughter count is a fourth-degree felony that can lead to up to 18 months in prison and up to a $5,000 fine.
Each was charged in the Feb. 1st death of Stanley Hartt, 64, of Tucumcari, who was attacked by five dogs at Gamble Avenue and South 11th Street, near Mesalands Community College.
At the scene, Hartt’s body was found with bite marks, and animals appeared to have “eaten away” parts of his legs, according to an affidavit filed in arrest warrants issued by the New Mexico State Police. Hartt died at the scene.
After a call about a dog attack in the area between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. Feb. 1, city and county law enforcement officers found Hartt on his back “with severe injuries throughout.” He was identified by a blood-covered bank card at the scene.
City and county officers followed one of the dogs seen with the pack down an alley in the 400 block of West High Street, the affidavit shows. Officers then spoke to a woman, identified as Montoya, who let the dog into her house.
Montoya later identified the four dogs in custody at the city pound as hers.
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