Two Roswell police officers arrested, charged in domestic incidents

Roswell Police Chief Lane Bateman expressed frustration Thursday after two of his officers were taken into custody and charged in unrelated domestic incidents over a single day.

“Having to arrest two of our own officers within 24 hours not only frustrates me, but angers me,” Bateman stated in a news release.

Roswell police officer Brandon Speights, 32, surrendered Wednesday to his fellow officers, who booked him into the Chaves County Detention Center on a charge of battery against a household member. Speights has been at RPD for seven and a half years, the agency said.

Speights was placed on administrative leave over a criminal investigation into an allegation that Speights grabbed a woman described as his girlfriend by her neck during an argument on April 3. He faces an administrative investigation at the RPD as well.

According to an affidavit, Speights denied the accusation.

His case was referred by the 5th Judicial District Attorney’s Office to the neighboring 12th Judicial District to avoid potential conflicts of interest, and prosecutors with Otero County DA Ryan Suggs’ office approved the battery charge, the RPD reported. Speights’ arraignment is scheduled for Friday morning.

Responding to that incident, Bateman said, “(Speights’) alleged actions are unacceptable and do not reflect the dedicated men and women of the Roswell Police Department who honor their oath to protect the citizens of Roswell.”

Then, on Thursday, officer Thomas Troy, 21, was taken into custody after police responded to a complaint that he had harassed a former girlfriend, months after their relationship ended.

The victim told police Troy appeared at the residence of her current boyfriend and “started banging on the door” while she was there and he had been on the premises for 20 minutes when police arrived, according to a news release.

Troy was booked into the Chaves County Detention Center on charges of stalking and disorderly conduct, and he, too, was placed on leave by the RPD as an administrative investigation takes place. Troy joined the police department in March 2023.

“These alleged actions by both officers give a black eye to this agency and the personnel who do the right things on a daily basis,” Bateman stated. “The law affords these officers due process, but rest assured that administrative action will be swift and just once we complete this process.”