Suspect in police shooting likely to stay in jail

Staff Writer

[email protected]

A man accused of multiple crimes, including shooting a Clovis police officer in August, will likely remain in jail for a while.

Anthony Baca, 34, had bonds set at $40,000 cash only in district court on Monday.

He had asked the court for smaller bond amounts.

Baca, represented by attorney Brett Carter, appeared before District Judge Fred Van Soelen to review conditions of release on cases that involved:

• Aggravated assault and shoplifting

• Possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia; assault upon a peace officer; violation of restraining order prohibiting domestic violence; and resisting, evading or obstructing an officer

• Trafficking, robbery, aggravated battery, receiving stolen property, possession of a controlled substance and conspiracy to commit robbery.

Baca in a separate case is accused of shooting Clovis Police Officer Chris Caron on Aug. 29 while escaping arrest on a warrant for failure to appear in court. Jail officials said his bond is set at $75,000 cash only in the officer-shooting case.

Addressing Van Soelen, Carter said he does not believe Baca is a flight risk. He asked that the bond for each case discussed Monday be set at a $10,000 cash surety, which would have allowed a bonding agent to help secure his release.

“That would be a total of $30,000 cash surety,” Carter said, “and that would be in addition to the bonds he has on his other cases that are before — I believe — this court, as well as the magistrate court.”

In response, District Attorney Andrea Reeb said, “The court has given (Baca) many, many chances,” noting that Baca has seven open files in the court and has violated conditions of release in other cases.

Also referencing the alleged shooting of Caron, Reeb said she feels Baca is “extremely dangerous” and asked that the cases stay without bonds.

“He is entitled to a bond in each case,” Carter said to Van Soelen, referencing Article II, Section 13 of the New Mexico Constitution that outlines conditions for bond.

Van Soelen said based on Baca’s previous history, he set bonds on the three cases before him at $40,000 cash only.