Sheriff reports 1,657 calls in March, arrests linked to series of stolen golf carts and in-custody battery charge

Grant County Sheriff Villanueva told commissioners the sheriff’s office responded to 1,657 calls for service in March and provided a detailed operational update that included recent investigations, arrests and training plans.

In his report the sheriff said deputies investigated 35 crashes, 70 domestic disturbances, 66 suspicious-activity calls and 39 alarms. The civil-process division served 391 papers and the detention center conducted transports and court security duties. He highlighted a multi-stage investigation into stolen golf carts at Scott Park: deputies located five stolen carts in total, arrested one suspect (identified in the record as Charles Rubble) who admitted taking two carts and was charged with aggravated larceny and felony firearms possession; officials said Rubble also had outstanding warrants. The second suspect remains under investigation, the sheriff said.

The sheriff also reported a March 20 incident at the Grant County Detention Center in which a staff member was struck with a broom handle and suffered a severe head laceration. Deputies charged an inmate with two counts of aggravated battery on a health-care professional; the victim was transported for treatment.

Training and events were emphasized: the sheriff said eight staff will attend a regional human-trafficking conference April 22–24 in Silver City; other deputies are scheduled for peer-support and crisis-intervention (CIT) training; deputies will assist with the Tour of the Gila bicycle race (April 24–27) and the office plans increased OHV patrols over the Easter weekend. The sheriff praised staff and recognized a retiring deputy presented earlier in public input.