Regional News - The Durango Herald

The Blotter, Jan. 3-6

Durango Police Department Monday 7:27 p.m. A man was screaming and acting erratic in the 600 block of Main Avenue. 10:18 p.m. A man in a maroon Nissan was following another man, acco...

DATE: Jan 7, 2025 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Man charged with attacking TV reporter has mental health challenges, attorney says

Patrick Egan is accused of yelling ‘This is Trump’s America now’

DATE: Jan 3, 2025 | CATEGORY: Regional News

AG Phil Weiser is first big name to declare for 2026 Colorado governor’s race

State’s top elected lawyer announced a big resolution: he’s running

DATE: Jan 2, 2025 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Why is Colorado homeowners insurance going up?

Rates are soaring as residents await ‘Insurer of Last Resort’ to come online

DATE: Jan 1, 2025 | CATEGORY: Regional News

National Ski Patrol boss is two years into rebuilding the 85-year-old institution

Stephanie Cox took the reins as staff were fleeing and the organization

DATE: Jan 1, 2025 | CATEGORY: Regional News

The Blotter, Dec. 27-30

Durango Police Department Monday 6:03 p.m. Police were investigating a hit-and-run crash in the Mac’s Liquor parking lot, 3124 Main Ave. 6:14 p.m. Someone stole cigarettes from Walgr...

DATE: Dec 31, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Despite strong bipartisan support, bill to protect kids online fails to advance in Congress

Legislation would have required social media companies to create stronger controls

DATE: Dec 30, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Colorado leaders react to death of former President Jimmy Carter

Sen. John Hickenlooper said Carter was ‘as good as it gets’

DATE: Dec 30, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Committee forming to research Colorado’s boarding schools

History Colorado will include survivors to steer effort

DATE: Dec 28, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Ranchers at odds with Colorado governor over wolf reintroduction

Tone at a recent conference turned adversarial

DATE: Dec 24, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Report details how Colorado agencies can better support non-English speakers

State government programs are making strides toward better access for non-English-speaking Coloradans, a new report found, but more resources and coordination across agencies may be needed t...

DATE: Dec 22, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Colorado clemencies include a public defender and many community volunteers

Gov. Jared Polis granted clemency to more than two dozen people on the Friday before Christmas week. The criminal convictions span decades, with some having occurred 40 years ago. Polis appl...

DATE: Dec 21, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

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Photos: Wrestling at Durango High SchoolDurango High School boys wrestling beat Bayfield High School Tuesday night

Durango High School boys wrestling beat Bayfield High School Tuesday night

Photos: Where there's smoke there's firefightersDurango firefighters take advantage of the old River City Hall building for training

Durango firefighters take advantage of the old River City Hall building for training

Photos: Durango plays Montezuma-Cortez in boys, girls high school basketballDurango girls and boys basketball teams defeat Montezuma-Cortez at DHS

Durango girls and boys basketball teams defeat Montezuma-Cortez at DHS

Year in photos: A look back at Southwest Colorado in 2024Each year brings some of the new and some of the old – breaking news and cherished traditions. It is the people, their emotions, different cultures and varied forms of entertainment that make for impactful images. Add to that Southwest Colorado’s gorgeous scenery, abundant wildlife and range of weather events, and you have the makings for stunning photos. We hope you enjoy Photo Editor Jerry McBride’s photos from 2024.

Each year brings some of the new and some of the old – breaking news and cherished traditions. It is...

Montezuma County DA Christian Hatfield charged with DWICharges come 16 weeks after crash near Farmington, New MexicoMontezuma County District Attorney Christian Hatfield was charged Friday with driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs 16 weeks after he crashed his SUV on U.S. Highway 64 outside Bloomfield.The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office charged Hatfield, 59, with petty misdemeanor charge of DWI and an open container in connection to the Aug. 30 single-car crash.The charges come after results from a blood test by the New Mexico Department of Health Scientific Laboratory showed alcohol and a drug in Hatfield’s body after the crash.

“The results show that at the time of the blood draw, which was approximately eleven hours after the time of the crash due to medical issues, were 0.05 g/100 ml of Ethanol and 0.04 mg/L of Zolpidem (Ambien). Both Ethanol and Ambien are Central Nervous System Depressants,” the law enforcement report states.Two vials of blood were taken from Hatfield at 1:33 p.m. Aug. 30, which was more than 12 hours after the crash occurred about 1 a.m. Those vials were received by the New Mexico Department of Health Scientific Laboratory at 10:26 a.m. Oct. 11, which was six weeks after the crash, according to records from the lab.An investigation into the blood warrant by The Journal newspaper in Cortez, Colorado, showed that the blood sample sat in a refrigerator at the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office until Oct. 3, because paperwork to send it to the state laboratory was not processed.“I think it’s a non-prosecutable case because of all the errors made by law enforcement,” said Arlon Stoker, a high-profile defense attorney secured by Hatfield to fight the charges.

The charges made by the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office are “based on the observations made by law enforcement officers on scene and the presence of intoxicating drugs and liquors in Christian's blood,” according to the report that was given to The Journal by the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government.Amanda Lavin, legal director for NMFOG, assisted The Journal in accessing public records from the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office in Aztec. The records had been redacted, leaving out Hatfield’s name and information about the blood warrant filed in San Juan County Magistrate Court.Public records requests by The Journal and the Tri-City Record went unresolved for 14 weeks.The Journal requested body camera footage and lapel camera video on Sept. 3.The Tri-City Record requested any and all warrants, investigative reports and laboratory reports as well as photos, lapel cam videos and dash cam videos on Oct. 23.On Dec. 9, Lavin made the same requests.

The Journal received access to photos and videos in an email on Dec. 19, and Lavin, after making a legal argument for unredacted information, received the full report Dec. 19 and was advised that charges would be forthcoming.The report detailing the crash states that Hatfield was found “unresponsive and barely able to stand” about 1 a.m. Aug. 30 near the intersection of U.S. Highway 64 and County Road 5099.Investigators and medics noted a “pungent” odor of alcohol coming from Hatfield, and investigators found “an open 12-ounce can of Mexican Lager with residual liquid inside,” an “empty wine glass,” and a “bottle of Ambien prescribed to Christian,” according to the report.The affidavit for search warrant for blood submitted by sheriff’s deputy Avery Killifer states he had an “opinion that the defendant was driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor or a controlled substance.” The deputy “placed the defendant under arrest” at the time, but Hatfield was taken to San Juan Regional Medical Center, because of “extensive injuries.”A summons was issued for Hatfield, and an arraignment is set for 8:30 a.m. Jan. 8 in Aztec Magistrate Court.

Charges come 16 weeks after crash near Farmington, New Mexico