Man arrested for attacking ENMU student

STAFF REPORT

An Eastern New Mexico University student and football player was attacked Thursday morning during what appeared to be an attempted mugging, according to ENMU Police Department Chief Brad Mauldin.

Mauldin said Tuesday that his department received a call at 5:42 a.m. Thursday regarding a battery that occurred on West Cherry Street near the Greyhound Arena.

The 22-year-old male victim, an ENMU student officials declined to identify, reported that while walking to the Greyhound Arena with headphones in his ears, he was hit on the head from behind with an unknown blunt object.

The victim told police that he fell to the ground after being struck, and two male subjects began searching the pockets on the sweater he was wearing as if “to take items from him,” according to Mauldin.

Mauldin said David Carrillo-Tinoca, 32, was arrested and charged with aggravated battery, a third-degree felony, after Portales Police Department officials helped to identify him.

Mauldin said the case is still being investigated by the ENMU Police Department and reviewed by the District Attorney’s Office, and the charges could be amended to armed robbery, a first-degree felony.

The second suspect in the incident has not yet been identified, he said.

Mauldin said this is the first time an armed robbery has been reported to his department since he became chief in 2009.

Any information regarding this incident or any other crime can be reported to the Roosevelt County Crime Stoppers at 575-356-8100 or the ENMUPD at 575-562-2393.