One Village of Chama employee was hospitalized and another was arrested after a late-afternoon brawl July 2 at the Village’s Streets Department office
Nathan Rivas, 29, reported he was beaten by two coworkers and was taken to Española Hospital with lacerations, bleeding and swelling on his face, back and torso, according to documents. Rivas told Rio Arriba County Sheriff’s Deputy Don Cordova that he had been beaten and hit with a shovel by Luis “Popeye” Lopez, 23, and Village Streets Department Supervisor Jonathan Madrid.
Cordova and deputy Jose Martinez arrested Lopez and took him into custody, and Cordova subsequently stopped Madrid on State Road 17, according to the report. But Madrid was released after telling Cordova he was just breaking up a fight between Lopez and Rivas when he knocked Rivas to the ground.
No explanation was given for the fight in court documents.
Lopez told a much different story Tuesday, insisting he had not hit Rivas.
“Jonathan (Madrid) bought us a pint of vodka and two tall cans of beer,” Lopez said. “Only Jonathan hit anybody. He kicked me in the head, the ribs and the balls. I don’t remember that much after he kicked me in the head, other than him pushing me out of his truck at my fiancee’s mother’s place.”
Madrid could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Lopez was charged with one count of assault against a household member and one count of aggravated battery against a household member for the alleged attack on Rivas. Cordova would not comment why he chose this charge for Lopez. Lopez pleaded not guilty and was released Monday on a $2,500 bond, documents state.
Lopez had been convicted on the same charges earlier this year, for punching his girlfriend in the face, documnts state.
Rivas was recovering at home with a concussion Tuesday, according to his mother, Mary Ann Rivas.
“He’s not making sense now and doesn’t know what happened,” she said.
Rivas and Lopez are Village custodians who assist with road repair, animal control, backhoe work, trash clean-up and grave digging, Lopez said Tuesday. Both men are supervised by Madrid.
Rivas and Lopez are distant cousins and are related to Chama Mayor Archie Vigil, Lopez said.
Chama Mayor Archie Vigil refused to comment on the fight.
“My lawyer told me to tell you no comment,” Vigil said.
Rivas was arrested Feb. 29, 2008, for allegedly driving a Village vehicle into a house around noon that day while possibly intoxicated, a State Police report states. The charges were dropped after Rivas completed eight days of community service.
Village councilors and Vigil have received numerous anonymous tips about alcohol consumption by street department employees, Lopez and Village Councilor Billy Elbrock said.
“If somebody would’ve identified themselves on these allegations, disciplinary action could’ve been taken,” Elbrock said Monday. “But since they all wanted to remain anonymous, the employees were just talked to by the mayor. I don’t know how recently that was. I wish somebody would’ve come forward and prevented this young man from getting hurt so badly.”