LAS CRUCEZ, NM – Las Cruces police arrested a man suspected of pointing a handgun at his girlfriend and striking her with the weapon during an automobile incident that occurred Monday.
Mark Anthony Calzada, 27, of the 1600 block of Chickasaw Trail, is charged with a third-degree felony count of aggravated battery against a household member, a third-degree felony count of intentional child abuse, a fourth-degree felony count of aggravated assault against a household member and a fourth-degree felony count of false imprisonment.
Shortly before 2 p.m., Monday, March 29, Las Cruces police were dispatched to the report of a domestic disturbance that was mobile and appeared to have ended on Chickasaw Trail. Police located Calzada’s girlfriend who indicated she ran away from Calzada when they arrived at his mother’s home.
Investigators learned Calzada and his girlfriend have a 1-year-old child together. On Monday, Calzada and his girlfriend were together, in his car and with their young son, when Calzada began arguing with her. At some point, Calzada drove to a park off Spitz Avenue where he allegedly pointed a black handgun at his girlfriend’s face. Calzada is also accused of striking the woman’s leg with the butt of the gun. Investigators learned the woman tried to exit the vehicle but Calzada forced her to remain in the car.
Investigators determined that when they arrived at Calzada’s mother’s home, Calzada took their child inside and his girlfriend used the opportunity to run for safety and call police.
Las Cruces police officers located Calzada’s Toyota Camry at the home, but he was not there. A short while later, officers conducted a high-risk traffic stop on a Dodge pickup that was traveling on Del Rey Boulevard. Calzada was a passenger in the pickup and was taken into custody without further incident.
Calzada was subsequently booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center where he is initially being held without bond.