Suspect in jail beating released, cover-up alleged

Posted at: 11/06/2009 8:06 PM | Updated at: 11/06/2009 10:28 PM
By: Jeremy Jojola, Eyewitness News 4; Charlie Pabst, KOB.com

An inmate accused of nearly beating his cellmate to death at the Metro Detention Center was released without being charged, and Eyewitness News 4 investigation uncovered.

The sheriff's department says it was never told about the beating, and now deputies are trying to hunt down the man on the loose.

An inmate was taken to the hospital unconscious, and the suspect was released days later without charges. The sheriff's department apparently wasn't notified about any of it for three weeks.

The suspect is now on the run, wanted for the beating.

The victim, Andrew Wright, said through his attorney the man had to have his face put back together with plates during surgery.

Wright was in jail on misdemeanor drug charges on October 12.

According to court documents, Wright was beaten by his cellmate because he wouldn't give food to some gang members.

Wright now has trouble talking, possibly because of brain damage.

It's unknown when the jail released the suspect, Paul Ruiz.

Ruiz was not charged until Friday, nearly a month since the incident happened.

The sheriff's department says it wasn't notified of the beating until the victim's attorney sent them an e-mail on Tuesday, and now they're playing catch-up.

Bernalillo County Chief Deputy David Linthicum said the department is going to piece together the timeline of exactly what happened.

Jeremy Jojola: I don't want to put words into your mouth Chief Deputy, but it sounds like the jail may have dropped the ball here, according to what you're saying, by not notifying your department.
Chief Deputy David Linthicum: It will be part of the investigation of exactly what occurred and how it happened in the time frame.
Jojola: Can anybody at the jail face negligence charges or failure to report a crime?
Chief Deputy Linthicum: It's pretty early on for me to determine that or for me to say anything. It'll be part of the investigation.

Wright's attorney, Mark Fine, worries what else could be going on inside the jail.

Fine said, "I think New Mexico needs to question what is happening at that jail that we don't know about, that is just supressed at the jail, because they don't notify any authorities, they don't notify anybody. It's scary for me to think what else could be happening there we don't know about."

Sheriff's deputies are now investigating why the jail released a man who may have committed a felony in their custody, and why the sheriff's department was not notified.

Jojola: Now this suspect is out there on the run.
Chief Deputy Linthicum: Yes, if they had notified us at that time, hopefully all the witnesses and the alleged offender, and all the evidence and the people would have been in place and we could have done a good investigation.

A Bernalillo County spokesperson sent the following statement:

If it is determined that there was any misconduct by any county employees, stern and appropriate disciplinary action will be taken.

The county will not comment further because of possible litigation.

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