Santa Fe police shot one of their own while firing at fleeing suspects

Santa Fe police shot and injured three people, including one of their own officers, at the end of a police pursuit on Sunday afternoon.

Ray Wilson, a New Mexico State Police spokesman, said the injured officer and one of the men, George Theragood, 42, are recovering from their injuries.

Wilson said the other man who was shot, 35-year-old Rick Chavez, is in the hospital in critical condition.

Ben Valdez, deputy chief of the Santa Fe Police Department, said the injured officer is in stable condition. He said the officer was struck by bullets in the arm and torso.

“The officer was wearing a ballistic protective vest at the time, which provided protection to their torso,” Valdez said.

Chavez pulled out a gun during the incident, according to police, but never fired it.

It is unclear how the Santa Fe officer was struck by gunfire from his fellow officers, and neither Wilson nor Valdez would comment on the matter.

Theragood has been booked into the Santa Fe County Detention Center on charges of aiding a felon, disarming a peace officer and conspiracy.

Wilson said around 1 p.m., Santa Fe police tracked Chavez, who had multiple warrants for his arrest, to a home along Rodeo Road, a few blocks west of St. Francis Drive.

A detective used a drone to confirm that Chavez was there, according to a criminal complaint filed against Theragood.

Wilson said Santa Fe and State Police officers tried to stop Chavez as he fled the home in a car, ramming his vehicle, but he was able to drive off.

He said officers were able to stop Chavez with spike strips a few blocks away, and he got out of the car with a gun in his hand. Wilson said officers confronted Chavez, who “began to enter” a car being driven by Theragood.

“At this point in the encounter, three SFPD officers discharged their duty weapons,” Wilson said.

He said Chavez, Theragood and a Santa Fe officer were injured by gunfire.

Police said during the arrest, Theragood took an officer’s less-lethal weapon away “for 30 seconds” before the officer regained control of it.

Theragood, who was shot in the bicep, told police Chavez was a relative’s “baby daddy” and had called him for help, according to the complaint. Police said Theragood told them Chavez showed up to his home and got into his car.

“This is the time when (Theragood) stated he hears gunshots and at this time he felt his arm was shot,” according to the complaint.

Court records show Chavez had been on the loose since March 2023, when he violated probation after repeatedly failing drug tests.

At the time, Chavez — in response to being ordered to six-month drug treatment — messaged his probation officer: “I have a lot of other things going on in my head, not just the drugs.”

“I highly doubt they’re just throwing me in treatment for six months (is) going to solve everybody’s problem or mine,” Chavez wrote in the message.

He added, “But it seems like nobody listens anymore, anyways, I’m not trying to (expletive) you or anything like that I’m just trying to figure out the best thing for me.”

Since then, Chavez has been charged with several separate crimes, including aggravated fleeing, burglary, auto theft and aggravated assault on a peace officer.

Most recently, on Feb. 24, Santa Fe police found Chavez and his girlfriend passed out in two vehicles at a park, according to court records.

Court records show both fled from officers in the vehicles. Police did not give chase.