A deputy with the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office in New Mexico has been cleared after an officer-involved shooting in August left a 36-year-old man dead.
Authorities in San Juan County began receiving calls about a string of break-ins and damage to property about 8 a.m. Aug. 31 and located an SUV that was reported stolen in the crime spree.
The suspect, identified as Marco Antonio Benito of Albuquerque, fled at a high rate of speed, then abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot near the San Juan County landfill on County Road 3177.
The Sheriff’s Office said the man was found in an irrigation ditch. Despite orders to surrender, the suspect allegedly threatened deputies and said he had a firearm. He refused to show his hands.
Believing Benito was going to brandish a weapon, the Sheriff’s Office said a deputy fired his weapon, hitting Benito in the torso. Despite lifesaving measures at the scene, Benito died from his injuries.
A firearm was not found. The Sheriff’s Office said Benito had a significant arrest record.
The Sheriff’s Office recently released video footage of the incident on its Facebook page and cleared the deputy of any wrongdoing.
“After a thorough investigation, it was determined that one deputy fired his weapon in accordance with San Juan County Sheriff’s Office policy,” according to a news release from the Sheriff’s Office.
Efforts to reach Benito’s family members for comment were unsuccessful Thursday.
In a prepared statement, Sheriff Shane Ferrari thanked the public for its patience as authorities investigated the incident.
“To the Benito family I offer my condolences, and I ask our community to be respectful of the family. It is not easy losing a loved one, regardless of the circumstances,” he said.
“To the victims of that morning’s crimes, I know that some of you have lost some security,” he said. “But I want to give you my commitment that the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office and area law enforcement stay committed in protecting our community against violent offenders.”
jromeo@durangoherald.com
