DEMING – A routine work detail took an unexpected turn for a group of inmates from the Central New Mexico Correctional Facility in Los Lunas when they discovered two loaded guns hidden under tumbleweeds along I-25.
The inmates were working near the Santo Domingo exit Monday when they spotted the weapons and immediately alerted their supervising officer. The state corrections department is commending their actions, saying finds like this are rare but could have led to a dangerous situation.
Public Safety Policy Advisor Benjamin Baker said, “We could be having a whole different discussion but for the actions, the conduct, and the behavior of those inmates. We’re talking about two loaded handguns being introduced to a place where you have custody and control of folks who are serving out periods of incarceration for convictions and other crimes. It could have been a completely different story.”
Once the inmates returned to the facility, all nine were searched and interviewed. The weapons were turned over to state police for further investigation.