How a False Report Killed a Police Officer_vmdt

How a False Report Killed a Police Officer

I can authorize it. It’s a good pursuit. I told you to continue. Officers with the Santa Fe Police Department received a call about a woman who was carjacked and kidnapped at knife point. Officers initiated the pursuit, but no one could have prepared them for the horror that followed. They’re making a left turn.
They’re headed south and they’re headed back up to St. Mike. Turning around [Music] 73. We’re going back eastbound on St. Mike’s passing check. Swerving in and out of traffic. Go ahead. I got just make sure that the third officer goes and gets 49 please. Meanwhile, you guys stay on it. Please stand for notify the SP about 63 and we’re passing off now.
Turning uh on west via west on Royal Trapo. We are now headed back northeast over I25. Contain over I25 and just be flipping around now. And we’re going to be oncoming traffic. He’s going to be on to on traffic going over I 25 now. He’s heading on to I 25 wrong direction and he’s going to be headed on to the front road as you can bring the information that we have.
Is that was kidnapped in that vehicle? Yeah. female approached a calling party said that there was a male in her car with a knife that wouldn’t get out. The female got back in the car and they both took off the female and the night should be in that car. She was screaming to call the police department up currently headed southbound opposite the lane and we are headed to about exit.
Speeds are at 87. Light traffic at the moment. Looking for your direction for me. headed south on I25 in the northbound lane. And he just turned around. We are now back onto and now we’re headed back into Santa Fe. Copy. Anybody that’s ahead of us. Let’s see if we can get some slice set up. We’re again headed into the officer lane of travel.
We’re traveling north and south traffic. [Music] Copy. Anybody that’s ahead, let’s see if we can’t uh start slowing traffic down. That’s coming the opposite direction against it. Speeds are at 90. Light traffic. Light traffic. Speed still at 90. He’s still ready. attempt to call 911. You can do the call. Please hold the phone button.
Moments after the crash, the suspect sideswipes a truck. He’s recking down. He’s slowing down. He’s slowing down. Going to the left. Get out of the car. Get out of the car right now. 19 myself. 319 myself and another unit just uh got into a head-on collision here. Let me see your hands. Walk to me.
Let Where is he? Where is he? Walk back to me. Walk back to me now. I got the female coming back to me right now. Probably one standing in the car. Come back to me. Let me see your hands. Say 19. I’m 104. I’m going to check on the other unit. Go back. Where is he? He went that way. Where is he? Is he in the car? No, he went that way. Come here.
Get down. Get down. Let me check you. Get in the car. Okay. Oh god. Help me. Get in the car. Get in the car. Let me see. I need to check you. I need to check you for weapons. Okay. Where’s he at? Who is it? His name is my boyfriend. Does he have any weapons? Yes, he does. Where does he have? He has a gun. Where is he at? He went. He ran.
Yes, he did. Okay, stand by. So, I have the victim right now in the back of my car. She’s saying it’s her boyfriend. Unknown on the name. He’s got 1080 with a gun. Went into these bushes right here. Okay, let’s get some clarification on exactly where we’re at. And we need to establish a perimeter on that, please.
What is his name? His name is Mark. Mark. helicopter to help us out. Where? He ran off or what? Yes, he did. Are you sure he’s not in the vehicle? I’m sure. I’m sure. Sir, you’re positive. I’m positive. So, he hit me. He hit me and he ran. Okay. We need to clear this vehicle as well. I don’t know if there’s anybody else in here.
Probably about me. stab you at all? Fire? Did he hurt you at all? I don’t know. Okay. What kind of gun does he have? He had a knife to beat you. He has a gun or no? A gun and a knife. Okay. Right across. What’s his last name? Hello, Santa 911. Hey, this is this is 319. I need a 55. Okay. Where are you? Involved in [Applause] the northbound lanes.
Does anybody have the suspect’s last DOT? He went this way or what? I don’t know. Somebody trying to get He hit me. Okay. Any units that are coming up, what I want you guys to do is start diverting I25 down uh I25 northbound traffic off of the highway. When did he get out of the car? Were you driving? No. I know. It’s It’s Take a breath.
We’re trying to help you get information. I was not driving. He got He was driving and he said that he was going to kill me and light me on fire. There’s gas in the car. Yes. Tell him. Be careful. There’s gas in there. I think I’m okay. Hold on one second. Okay. Give me one second. I’m going to get you over to a medical dispatcher.
That way they can take all your information. Okay. Somebody is saying that the suspect is a no date of birth. Um, apparently there’s gas and fire in the car. I didn’t see anybody exit besides her, so he may still be in the vehicle. I can see inside the vehicle, but all the airbags deployed. I can’t see if there’s a driver.
What’s he wearing? Okay, we have t-shirt. What’s he wearing? I want to know if anybody has any information that we do. And I got black. Another black jacket. A red shirt and a black jacket. And dark dark jeans. Dark. Dark jeans. Any hat? Anything like that? He had a black hat. Red shirt, black hat, jeans, and a black jacket. [Music] Oh god.
Do you need a Do you need a medic? Yes. Do did he stab you or shoot you at all? Anywhere? I don’t know if he hit you. He had a knife. Yes, he was holding me. Is that blood on your jeans? We’re going to get a medic stage for you. Okay, we got to figure out what’s going on right now. Okay, just stay calm. I know.
I know it’s hard right now, but we’re here for you. Hey, she’s with me. We need to get her out of here, man. You want to You want to get her? Okay. Hey, I’m going to come around. You’re good. Hey, ma’am. Go. Come out for me. Come on. This side. You’re okay. We just want to get you out of here. Okay. You’re safe. We got you.
Do me a favor. I’m going to pull up. Just stay right back here by the tire right here. Okay. I’m gonna pull up a door. Hey Josh, do we have a a location on when or when the crash happened as far as if anybody got out or not? Like right now, all we saw was that chick run and the guys are on her as pretty quick on her.
2 nothing on anyone running out. Zero. 322. I’m going to take our victim and get her immediate medical attention. Get out of here. It’s not safe. Go. But if we do come down to an approach, if we do come do that, it’s going to be a vehicle approach. Okay. And I recommend two vehicles. M could be one. This angle, one angle.
Too much smash windows and stuff. If it comes to that, it did look like she might have gotten out of the driver’s seat, but again, I didn’t see it fully. She advised she wasn’t driving though that he was. I’m sorry. Can you 109 that again? Let me get a rifle. We have the girl. Oh, so it’s just him in there. It’s just him in there. Oh my god.
Where is this at? You guys have the chick, right? Oh my god. Okay, we we’re going to get some officers over there. Can I get any of you guys to break somebody? Somebody says just north of us there’s a 107 officer. I don’t know what’s going on over there. I see. And then I don’t know exact Back this one up. [Applause] This guy is probably hurt the worst
right now. And your officer is complaining of chest pain here. Um, we have a for gas. Um, these guys are helping me just with kind of first aid stuff, but I’m sorry, guys. I’m really sorry. I was coming from Las Vegas and he was 107. Okay. What were you saying about that 107? So, when the when the officers were pursuing, there was a collision involving one of our officers. Okay.
Two officers were there. One guy got out. Um he said we just were involved in a head-on collision. Uh the officer that I was able to raise on the radio told me that told me that he was 104 but was checking on the other officer. We got a secondary call where we got a secondary call from a female who said that she’s out with a 107 officer. Okay.
So right now I have a sergeant that’s over there along with those guys. Uh our attack team is responding. Okay. No, no, not some water, brother. My brother, we have some we’d like to get that shut down in case we uh get involved in something here. [Applause] down here. If you guys saw anything, um, wait [Applause] 194 coming. Starting and we’re using
everybody. Okay, before I do that, I found it with a little bit of pulse. Please move your vehicle. You’re in the crossfire right now. Anyone in the vehicle might be hurt. Might need medical attention. You might want someone to talk to. You might be overwhelmed. That being said, let us know you’re in there who could assist in all those issues you might have.
I don’t have any slo. She ran out real fast. She like rolled out from what I saw. But she came out the other side. What side? Driver’s side. But she said she wasn’t driving. I relayed that. But I don’t know, man. Have an officer. Have an officer didn’t make it. And then this guy, he was doing okay. And then now he’s not breathing.
I think we have any of these vehicles. Driving those vehicles. Who’s driving that? Bonnie. Yeah. Check to see if he has a false. I didn’t see him exit, man. And I was right behind him. So, either he’s 107 or he’s in there. Hey, um, if you see anything on the news, I’m okay. Okay. But I got to go. Okay. I love you. She didn’t get stabbed or anything, but he threatened to light her on fire and stab her.
Said he has a gun and a knife, but I didn’t see any blood. She said she doesn’t know if she got stabbed. Hey, one one of the officers went 107. Oh my god. We We don’t know. There’s been no movement inside of the car. Uh we’re just holding perimeter on it, waiting for TAC to get here. Okay. Thank you. Hey. Hey. Let’s see. I’ve activated my SWAT team.
We’re going to get the Bearcat over here and then we’ll probably have to start removing PDH. Um 319. Okay. Good. So soon enough we’re probably going to relieve them and then we’re going to need to yank all of our people out too because they got to So as soon as everybody gets here on the situation after the head-on crash make any phone calls and make any contacts with the veh please.
You guys come. We can just slowly start. Okay. So, I would imagine you guys are probably going to end up handling that stuff up there. Is that correct? What’s going on up there? There’s There is a 107 officer. What happened? a motor vehicle collision during the pursuit. So, that’s going to have to probably be handled by you guys.
The SO just got here. They’re bringing their TA team, too. Um, and eventually we’re going to have to start pro, if you guys are going to handle that, obviously we’re going to have to start relieving you guys and replacing him with incoming T guys. Uh, and then probably pulling all of our people our people out for now. Okay. So, so just explains to me.
So, the the initial call, if I remember, right, was a kidnapping with a woman, got it back in the car, correct? Made herself a victim and stayed with a guy, right? I don’t have no information. Well, what I’m getting at is we had no information beforehand that they were boyfriend and girlfriend. Okay.
Not that I know that I remember. No, it said it said that that somebody had a female at my point. She screamed, “Get call the police. Call the police.” So that’s why that’s why I authorized the pursuit. They want girl to go back to South. He’s not here. He’s not here today. Yeah, he’s not here today. Okay. I thought he showed her like that. Yeah.
And I just checked on Adriana. She’s in a bad way now. side of the I wasn’t there at least right make it through this one we don’t know if this guy um okay guys cuts here cuts here they’re bringing it down the down the shoulder from what I understand [Music] hey hit it from here it won’t glance so you’re right I can authorize it. It’s all right, bro.
It was a It was a good pursuit. Okay. It’s a good pursuit to continue. It’s okay. It’s a good pursuit. Done. We don’t know if the subject of the vehicle on that side. All right. The information we had is a solid pursuit. We didn’t do anything wrong. We can get up here. Take a minute. Take a minute. Try your shotgun.
[Applause] What do I need to do right now? You just need to chill out. Um I have I have incident command anyway. Bean back. Bean back. Just back. He’s keeping a scan on all this stuff with his gun. Take a minute. Did you not heard nothing like that? No. Let’s go back to uh incident command. They got this SWAT.
You guys got this now, right? Got this. SWAT’s activated. Activate the fatal team. It’s going to be a long day. Bean bag. Bean bag. Bean bag. Bean bag. Bean bag. [Applause] [Applause] You want to throw rocks or you don’t want to have this guy throw some rocks out that window for me? It’s a big one. This is kind of a stupid question.
No, it’s not. What do I do about my report today? Okay. Um, you don’t worry about a damn thing today. Okay. We’re No one’s going to worry about a thing today. Okay. is going to do us a huge favor. He’s going to put him in his in his emergency management truck and date these two guys, get them out of here and keep them to 81. Okay.
What I’m trying to figure out, man, is how did they land up ahead? I honestly I have no idea. Well, well, the only thing I can think of is the crash happened and the suspect start driving back this way because that car is facing this way. I have a bunch of random, as you can imagine, a lot going on. I think it was wrongway traffic. Mhm. Is what it was. Wow.
He drove the wrong way on St. Francis and everything else, right? Yeah, he was back and forth wrong way and right way in town. You’ve heard, right? Duran is dead. Robert Duran is dead. I have no idea. Uh the one of the new um laterals, Montano. Um the older one, I think. Um but if you can just start getting I don’t care what you get.
Like just get stuff for these guys. Some of these guys like we have three that witnessed the stuff. They’re going back to the 81. if you can get them something hot right now or I don’t know what and then we can deal with I don’t know granola bars and stuff for patrol and everyone out here because we still have a suspect out standing uh asked me to stay here so he’s going to No, I’ll be okay.
I’m not doing anything right now. I want to help. So, you’re going to have to just Don’t take I just want to help you. I know you are. There’s so many swing right here. We’re going to get you back. Okay. Get you out of here. All righty. Um, I don’t know if we have this anymore, but today’s Ash Wednesday and these guys, some of these guys are really religious.
Do we have that available? A priest or a chaplain? Let’s see if there’s someone to donate their services to us. Hugo just called me. Um, they’re getting the bird up in the air. Okay. Headed this way in case this guy did flee on foot. Hey. Yeah, I’m okay. Um, but I was calling to see I’m sorry, Jenna.
I’m trying to to get through this. Um, we have two scenes. So, I’m I’m sorry I’m rambling. Um, there’s one scene and it’s still active because one is outstanding. So, okay. So, have Eric or whoever when they’re ready to bring food out to this to one of the scenes, let me know, okay? so I can guide them in. State police is sending tactical guys out here plus the helicopter.
So, so everyone’s clear, whenever we get as dark, we’re going to back up this one, probably about 15 20 ft, we’ll stay on the passenger side of it and then walking with it as hard cover. We’re going to put it into the butt of our suspect car over there. Shake up the car a little bit with the Bearcat.
See if we get a stimulus. I can’t hear you. I can’t hear you here at the station. Probably, but I mean, he could at least give Dan last rights since he’s here. Let’s do that before we move him. Yep. You all squinting upward? Uh, for the most part shooting, car crash, guy had a gun, left kidnapped or possibly in the 386.
Right. 2867 95. What? Really? Yeah. You’re lying. Oh, yeah. Hey, hold on. Good. Yeah. Give me a minute. All right. What? I don’t know if he’s No, you talking about that same. No, after you just open go to the station. Go DK, go to the station. No, go to the station. DK, go to the station.
I know. I know. You want to be here, DK? And go to the station. Okay, let’s go. I’ll walk with If nobody’s in the car, then they’re going to have to We’re going to wait for the bird to come. They should be on their way now. And we’re going to start doing an open area search. We’ll do three dogs spread out. I’m good. No, I don’t want to be here.
I need your head in it. Okay. I’m not saying you’re not going to be, but I need your head to be where you want it to be right now. And this is not it. [Applause] Who with me? Can you get him to the station, please? Sounds like it was also involved. Oh, that’s why they kic out of here, too. I’m not going to break it.
There you go. Still not there. Anything? Anything? Anything from the turret? You just got up now. No contact from the airbags. Now the airbags are going to be in the way. Can’t see through the airbag. No. No. She was confused. She was listening to the radio and she’s like, I don’t know if you’re talking about the marker 286.
Choppy. Chappie. That was a chappie. Yeah, they’re all freaked out. No, that’s why I said you’re over the radio. I’m like, it’s the chap headed to the scene. You guys doing all right? We’re doing good. It’s bad. Are you going to quit? That when I die, I guess. Still out you. I know, jackass. This guy will run.
He’ll smoke a cigarette before he runs, too. As he’s running. Hey, it all get cover. Give me cover. Let’s go. Got you. Cover one. Give me your cover. Cover. Cover. I got you. I got you. I got you. Negative in back seat. Nothing in back. You guys see anything on the front? Move to the front. Move up. Nothing front. Maybe clear. Vehicle’s clear.
Trunk. Trunk. It’s probably not going to open. It’s not going to open. It’s jammed. Pull back. Pull back. Pull back. We’re going to need a tool to get in the trunk. Where’s that helic? Yeah. Yeah. Let’s go get it. Let’s go on this side. I got a backpack. I’m getting some more. Okay. They got a backpack.
Let’s get out. Let’s get out. Let’s get out. Let’s get out. Move. Move. Move. Hold on. Hold on. Hey, stand back. Is that him? Yeah. Cover. We got one watching us up on the top of the ridge. Cover. Cover. Cover. Cover. Rose has the long gun on it. It’s a female. There’s one on the left side over here, too. What’s the plan? Uh, get K9 over here.
Start tracking from the car. Okay. All right. You leave this. This is your main. Make sure we get a good track. Let’s get a couple elements and we’ll make sure we separate. We’re covering a lot of area. Obviously, he’s not in the vehicle because he’s got to be on foot somewhere. So, just keep your eyes on the hill for now.
He’s in the [ __ ] someone right on him when he crashed or they said they were pretty close on him. They never saw him get out, but apparently he got out. But that would make sense though. I mean, half the least resistance is going to head this way. It looks like this tracks this way, though. And no one’s walked over there. Give me a 360 perimeter. 360 perimeter.
set up a perimeter on this side, too, cuz we don’t know if he build on this side. I think what they’re doing is they’re waiting for the birds to track for a bit, see if they see any movement, and then after they’re done with that, we’ll start our K9 tracking. [Applause] this way. Yeah. Hey, it looks like he climbed out that driver side window cuz that’s the only window we didn’t break that’s completely gone. So, that’s what we’re going to do.
We’re going to use our we’re going to use our new K9 dog. He’s brand new to the tracking. So, he kind of he just got out of the class and stuff, so he’s up to date on it. He’s going to do that. If we don’t get a track, then we’re going to start going to an open area search if if need be.
If we don’t get any good info, this is probably where we’re we’ll probably grid it out from here. Northeast, northwest, southeast, southwest, and we’ll just send four teams going and check that area. If we don’t get any good info on anything, sounds good. So, sounds good, too. Let me know when you’re ready, Nick. I got my guys ready.
Okay, my dudes are up now. Send your bear out. Send it. Okay. All right. Uh the Bearcat, get ready to go. Northwest location. Looks like there’s a path maybe 20 ft above that path. Go ahead. We can’t get has a really good tracking dog and that’s what they’re waiting for. They’re letting the birds search wherever they can and then Sandaval’s dog, I guess, is supposed to be badass.
That’s what they’re waiting for. Well, we had the vehicle locked down almost immediately. So, he fled the vehicle immediately. Hello. Hey, you’re alive. Yeah, we’re still on scene, but I’m okay. Okay. All right. Love you. Love you. Two trains of thought. It’s one of ours. We’re doing a lot of stuff on emotion right now.
If if state wants to take over, I think it’s the right call. They have a bigger pack. They have more resources. They have a lot like most we are going to do is just walk in the woods with one to not find him cuz he ain’t getting found today. If this [ __ ] wasing lying too and Dan died for nothing kidnapping. Yeah.
So is it like a known relationship between suspect and victim? I have no So the caller I guess he was leaving Visaya and she’s driving pulls up in front of him is like telling him to get the dude out of her car and then that she needs help and then he’s like we’ll call the police. She’s like no he’s going to stab me. he’s going to kill me.
And so then he called and then they took off. And then and she was the driver. That’s what the caller said. And the caller said he didn’t see a knife or anything. He saw something black like the diameter of like a broomstick, but he couldn’t like see. Oh man. If this was like a code gun. Even worse, it’s going to be a simple assault.
execute this chick. As the multitude of law enforcement teams continued to search the area for Mark, investigators combed through surveillance video from where the initial 911 call took place and found no evidence of a kidnapping. We have to eliminate the two. If not, all we have is the hood of the car and it driving out.
Meanwhile, back at the police station, the victim, Janine Harmo, recounted her side of the story. He was starting to take out the knife on me again and I thought he was going to stab me and he stabbed the car. Where did he stab the car? He stabbed the car on um He went around he went around the car. He went out the car and got around to my side.
He opened the door and he was like all tried to choke me. He was choking me. He was choking me and telling me that he was going to kill me. And like when I and then like he moved off me and he got the knife. I went to the driver’s side and I went Oh yeah. I went jumped over to the driver’s side and he got into the passenger side and then he that’s when he tried to I thought he was going to kill me at that point because he he put the knife right into the door of the driver’s side.
Yeah. Do you remember going the wrong way on the highway? No. Investigators later found a previous incident in Sibola County 7 months prior where Harmo drove a stolen blue car through a fence. She escaped in a pursuit exceeding 100 mph and was later questioned by officers at her home. And he ran he ran the other way.
Ran what other way? Like the car. Let me see. He ran to the left hand side. Where’s he at? He ran. Yes, he did. What’s he wearing? He’s wearing the red shirt also with black jeans. What’s he wearing? He’s wearing a red a red shirt and he got black. Another black jacket. A red shirt and a black jacket and dark dark jeans.
According to the New Mexico Department of Public Safety, investigators learned that the Chevy Malibu was reported stolen 2 days prior, and the key fob to the vehicle was found in the backseat of the police vehicle she was placed in after the crash. Data from the vehicle’s computer showed only the driver’s seat was occupied at the time of the crash, indicating there was never a second person in the vehicle.
DNA from the driver’s side airbag also matched Harmo’s DNA profile. New Mexico State Police arrested Harammo on March 5th, 2022, and charged her with two counts of first-degree murder, great bodily injury by vehicle, receiving a stolen vehicle, aggravated fleeing a law enforcement officer, making a false report, and reckless driving.
Her case went to trial where she pleaded not guilty, and on December 12th, 2024, the jury returned their verdict. We find the defendant guilty of murder in the first degree as charged in count two. I’d like to say I’m sorry to me with all my heart. If I could take back that day, I would. But I made bad choices. I was I was on drugs and I was drinking.
But I also have my family that I’m hurting. Putting me away many years is not going to bring them back. But I would never ever plan on hurting anybody, [Music] much less killing anybody. God knows what’s in my heart. [Music] Plenty of times he considered leaving and pursuing a different career, but he always went back because of the days he was able to help someone to save someone like he was trying to do Janine Hario.
I do not want any of the families to be devastated by Miss Harmino’s selfish and reckless behavior. For that reason, I would ask you to consider the maximum sentence in this case. Not out of place or anger and hate. There’s no room in my heart for those emotions. I asked for the protection of others as that was the driving force behind my husband’s desire to become a police officer.
Haramio was sentenced to life in prison for each count of first-degree murder for a total of 60 years. She has appealed her convictions, though in all likelihood she will spend the rest of her life behind bars.