Rio Arriba County Sheriff’s Deputy Marcos Armijo, his wife and his neighbor were implicated Tuesday in a scheme to illegally hook up the Armijos’ home to the city of Española’s water supply, a police report states.
The Armijos live at 1607 Greenfield Lane.
According to the report, the couple has had an ongoing billing dispute with the city since January, and their water was shut off Sept. 12 due to non-payment.
Armijo and his wife Renee owe the city $1,525.17 in past-due charges, according to a list of delinquent utility customers.
A city meter reader called Española Police Tuesday to stand by as he removed the illegal connection and placed a locked cover over the city’s valve, the report states. Armijo’s neighbor Richard Martinez told police he had given the Armijos permission to connect a garden hose to his water line. Martinez was informed that it is illegal to tamper with a municipal water connection, the report states.
No charges were filed and the matter will be forwarded to detectives for further review, the report states.
According to city ordinance, connecting to city utilities without the proper permits is a petty misdemeanor.
Armijo could not be reached for comment. City Water Director Marvin Martinez declined to comment.