Drunk women get into fight at concert, almost hit security and refuse to stop for police

Update: Charges against Huffman-Ditto were dropped recently.

According to a criminal complaint filed by the Rio Rancho Police Department, Katherine Huffman-Ditto, 33, of Albuquerque, was arrested around 10 p.m. on multiple charges after a fight occurred with her friend at the 420 West Show April 20.

Two women reportedly were fighting in the HP parking lot not far from the Rio Rancho Events Center, where the 420 West Show was taking place.

Security personnel were on both sides of the parking lot. Officers saw a green SUV with its license plate covered by a T-shirt traveling at a high rate of speed toward the security personnel by the parking lot exit. One of the security guards was nearly struck by the vehicle and had to jump out of the way to avoid being hit.

The report noted that all security guards were in uniform with reflective vests and flashlights in hand.

The officers on scene then activated their lights and sirens in an attempt to stop the vehicle.

Officers then report that the driver, Huffman-Ditto, turned onto HP Way at a high rate of speed while running a stop sign. They attempted to stop the car until it stopped on Vision Drive.

Both Huffman-Ditto and her friend were then detained. The criminal complaint provided adds that Huffman-Ditto didn’t follow orders several times while officers were removing her from the vehicle and detaining her.

After both were detained, officers then spoke to Huffman-Ditto about the situation.

She told officers that she and the other woman were girlfriends and got into an argument at the concert. They continued arguing on the way to their vehicle. She told officers that security followed them out to their car and that one of them started to hit her. She fought back. She and her friend didn’t engage in any physical confrontation.

She said she didn’t see the security personnel she almost hit. She admitted to panicking when the officers’ lights came on and said that’s why she didn’t stop.

Her friend had the same story, though she added the argument was about a male friend who was also at the concert.

Officers noted that the friend was very intoxicated and didn’t know they fled from police. She also didn’t seem to understand the beginning or end of the confrontation.

Sobriety tests were taken for both women, which indicated they were impaired by alcohol. Officers said they could smell alcohol on Huffman-Ditto’s breath as well.

Officers also spoke to the security guard that was nearly struck. He stated that the two women were escorted out of the event center by security after they were seen pushing each other and arguing. They began physically fighting by the loading docks as security followed them out.

He identified Huffman-Ditto as the aggressor and said she was punching her friend in the arms and shoulders. He added that she also threw punches at security, though he says none of them landed.

When he saw law enforcement pull up, he figured they would stop for police.

He said she almost hit him by one foot and gestured with his hand how far away she was. He requested to press charges.

The vehicle was towed and Huffman-Ditto was taken into custody. There is no criminal complaint for her friend.

If convicted, Huffman-Ditto could face 18 months for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, anywhere from 18 months to a few years for aggravated driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor, less than a year for refusing to stop for police and 90 days for having an open container in the vehicle.