Written by Officer Ray Wilson 06/12/2021
Taos, NM – On Saturday June 12, 2021, the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau was asked to investigate an Officer Involved Shooting in Taos involving the Taos Police Department.
Investigators learned that on Saturday June 12, 2021, at around 3:00 a.m. Taos Police Officer Gabriel Martinez attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a Hyundai passenger vehicle for several traffic violations on State Road 68 in Taos. The vehicle failed to stop for Officer Martinez and a vehicle pursuit ensued onto Cruz Alta Road.
After a short vehicle pursuit, the Hyundai crashed on Fernandez Road. At that point in the encounter the suspect, 18-year-old Antonio Olivares from Albuquerque, NM, got out of the vehicle and took off running. Olivares stopped, turned towards Officer Martinez, and fired a handgun at Officer Martinez. Officer Martinez, fearing for his life, fired his department issued firearm at Olivares. Olivares was struck by gunfire but was able to evade the officer on foot. Officers established a perimeter around the area and found Olivares a short time later on Gusdorf Place.
Olivares was taken into custody without further incident and transported to a local hospital for treatment. He was later airlifted to an Albuquerque hospital for injuries that were not life threatening, and he was later released. Olivares was subsequently arrested and is facing charges related to this incident. For information on those charges, please reach out to the Taos Police Department.
No officers were injured in this incident which is under investigation by the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau. Officer Martinez has been employed with the Taos Police Department for two and a half years. For inquiries into Officer Martinez’s duty status please reach out to the Taos Police Department.