Man arrested for fake 911 calls, holding up 528 traffic

RIO RANCHO — NM 528 was busy with cops near Sundt Road Jan. 31 because a Rio Rancho man was keeping them busy.

Sever Casias, 36, of Rio Rancho, was arrested for three counts of aggravated assault upon a peace officer, jaywalking, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and reporting false claims to 911.

According to a criminal complaint filed by Rio Rancho Police Department, a man called 911 saying he was being followed. He cussed at the dispatcher while on the phone and hung up before giving any more information. Circle K workers told responding officers that a man was yelling and talking to himself. They said he would cross lanes on NM 528 and disturb traffic. Police looked in the nearby arroyo for him but couldn't find him. Witnesses told officers they heard the man say there was a body in the arroyo.

Police confirmed there was no body. An officer was then flagged down by a motorist who said a man had thrown a shopping cart into the road, disrupting drivers. Police removed the cart and, as they were doing so, saw a man walking north in the arroyo.

The man refused to talk with police. They also found the phone number he used to call 911 was not his. He continued to be resistant, shouting profanities at the officer. He then swung a large wooden handle and destroyed his belongings. He continued to run across the highway while traffic was flowing and called 911 again as he did so. Dispatch informed officers that he had called 911 five times that day with false reports.

Police concluded that the man was a danger to himself and others, so more officers were called to the scene to aid in his arrest. They blocked traffic on NM 528 while they attempted to detain Casias, who continued to be uncooperative. He didn't follow police demands, grabbed the wooden handle, which was reportedly about 4 feet long, and swung it around in the direction of officers. He then ran away from officers into the mesa.

When police ran after him, he faced one officer and swung the wooden handle at them. The officer drew their weapon but did not fire. By this point a K9 had arrived to assist. The dog succeeded in taking him down to be detained, and Casias was taken to the hospital for a dog bite.

Casias could face more than 10 years in prison if convicted.