Font ResizeLAS CRUCES - A 33-year-old felon is in jail after police say he got drunk and threatened five officers with a loaded handgun he said belonged to "The Matrix."
Juan Carlos Manquera, a resident of the Evergreen mobile home park at 6345 N. Do-a Ana Road, told police that in addition to his 9 mm handgun, he also owned "tanks," according to documents filed in court Tuesday.
Contrary to televised reports, Manquera did not threaten to harm himself or anyone else, court documents show.
Sheriff's deputies responded to a report of a fight just after 10 p.m. Monday, according to court documents.
Manquera had allegedly accused a friend of stealing a car, then took a handgun from his waistband and told the man, "You know what's going to happen."
The two had been drinking alcohol and shooting guns that afternoon, according to court documents. Manquera did not pull the trigger.
The county's SWAT team and crisis negotiators were called to the scene after it became clear Manquera was barricading himself inside the home, Lt. Michael Kinney said Tuesday.
The SWAT team surrounded the residence and used non-lethal munitions to shoot out the lights, providing officers the cover of darkness.
Manquera refused deputies entry into his trailer, and came to the door with a cell phone and a gun, which he allegedly pointed at a deputy taking cover behind a vehicle.
"Shoot me," Manquera allegedly said.
He then allegedly proceeded to point the gun at four other officers, one
"I just shot another one of your officers," Manquera allegedly told a sheriff's sergeant who was able to reach him via phone.
Manquera was taken into custody at about 2 a.m. Tuesday.
He told officers he had disassembled his gun and "flushed it down the toilet," according to court documents.
Not so - officers found Manquera's 9 mm Hi-Point C9 Luger, one live round in the chamber, concealed in a basket of pecans in his kitchen.
The gun's magazine was found at the home of the man Manquera is alleged to have threatened initially, according to court documents.
Once in custody, Manquera allegedly admitted he "might have had a beer or two."
"I showed the weapon because I didn't want anyone coming into my house," he allegedly told officers.
Manquera is charged with five counts of aggravated assault on an officer with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, being a felon in possession of a firearm, tampering with evidence, resisting arrest and using a firearm while intoxicated, according to a criminal complaint. He was also charged with an outstanding traffic warrant.
He is being held at the Do-a Ana County Detention Center with a $75,000 cash-only bond approved by Magistrate Court Judge Kent Wingenroth.
Ashley Meeks can be reached at (575) 541-5462.
