Overview
- The grand jury, which issued indictments Friday, charged five of the seven Costilla County officers, including the sheriff, the undersheriff, and the sheriff’s son.
- Sheriff Danny Sanchez stepped down, leaving a tiny department short on leaders as county commissioners move to appoint a replacement.
- One case alleges a skull was taken from Wild Horse Mesa and stored in an unlabeled paper grocery bag, teeth and other remains were never secured, the coroner was contacted late, and state investigators later removed and documented the evidence to preserve the chain of custody.
- A separate February encounter with a man in a mental health crisis led to assault and failure‑to‑intervene counts after body‑camera transcripts and expert testimony found he had committed no crime, was not told he was under arrest, was Tased multiple times, and suffered a broken rib.
- Arrest warrants were issued for all five defendants, several turned themselves in at the Alamosa County Jail, and the district attorney says more findings or charges could follow as court proceedings begin in early April.