Woman arrested in Rio Rancho Middle School football game parking lot spat

RIO RANCHO — Maria Sanchez, 42, of Rio Rancho, was arrested Oct. 9 for reckless driving, battery, battery against a household member, aggravated battery against a household member with a deadly weapon, four counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and three counts of child abuse at Rio Rancho Middle School.

According to a criminal complaint filed with the Sandoval County Magistrate Court, the caller said Sanchez used her vehicle to ram another and that Sanchez was arguing with her boyfriend and hit him in the face multiple times until he got into his vehicle.

There were six victims total in the incident.

The caller told police she and the group were at the school for a football game. Sanchez’s boyfriend was going to drive all of them to their car, which was farther away than his vehicle. He was outside his car when Sanchez arrived at the dirt parking lot, drove next to the car and got out. Sanchez noticed the caller in the front passenger seat and confronted him about who was in the car. They started to argue, and Sanchez began to hit him in the face. He got into the car and started to drive off, but Sanchez got into her car and accelerated into his car.

The boyfriend’s ex was in his car with her daughter and got out to let Sanchez know. Sanchez walked over to her and began hitting her in the face, and bystanders broke up the fight. Sanchez attempted to leave, but an off-duty officer closed the gates to the parking lot so she couldn’t get away.

The boyfriend told police he was in the process of breaking up with Sanchez. He was at the game for his daughter and specifically told Sanchez not to go. He said he was giving his ex, daughter and the others a ride to their car, which was in a separate parking lot. He confirmed everything that the caller said, noting that Sanchez hit the rear driver side of his car.

Sanchez said she got off work early and drove the football game. She said she suspected him of cheating on her and when she saw a woman in the vehicle, she confronted him. She admitted to using her car to hit his.