Man shot by deputies had faced multiple felony cases, with many dismissals

For nearly a decade, a man had felony cases cycle through the courts, many ending in dismissals, before he drew law enforcement attention — and gunfire — during a recent Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office operation in the International District.

Jason Baca, 36, was shot and critically injured by deputies on Nov. 12 during a crime-fighting operation in the International District. He is expected to survive, according to a Monday news release from BCSO.

BCSO said Baca was armed with a handgun and pointed it at deputies before being shot.

In the news release, Sheriff John Allen called Baca a “convicted felon with an outstanding felony warrant” that was “armed with a handgun and trafficking fentanyl.” Court records show, at the time of the shooting, Baca had an arrest warrant out for drug trafficking after allegedly selling $40 of fentanyl to an undercover officer.

Previous court records show that, since 2015, Baca had felony arrests for drug possession and trafficking, burglary, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and lesser offenses. The majority of the cases filed against Baca had been dismissed for various reasons: “in the interest of justice,” after officers didn’t show up for court and prosecutors not making deadlines, among other reasons.

In 2021, Baca was caught with a small amount of heroin during a traffic stop and pleaded guilty to drug possession, according to court records. Baca was sentenced to 18 months jail time, which the judge suspended, ordering him to serve 18 months probation.

Court records show within several months of being sentenced, Baca violated the terms of his probation by failing to show up for drug tests and not keeping in contact with his probation officer. Afterward, Baca was ordered to serve a year at the Metropolitan Detention Center.

Baca would not find himself in trouble again until Oct. 22, when he allegedly sold fentanyl to an undercover officer. A warrant was issued for his arrest and, on Nov. 25, the warrant showed up during a BCSO traffic stop in the International District.