Las Cruces Driver Plows Into Feds, Cops – 82 Months

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Richard Ruiz Leyva, 36, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, will spend nearly seven years behind bars after admitting to a brazen attack on both federal and local law enforcement officers. Leyva pleaded guilty today in federal court, securing a deal of 82 months imprisonment followed by an unspecified period of supervised release.

The August 2016 incident saw Leyva arrested and initially charged with assaulting and resisting officers with the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS). Court documents detail a shocking scene: Leyva allegedly used his vehicle as a weapon, repeatedly ramming into police cruisers as officers attempted a routine traffic stop. This wasn’t a simple evasion; it was a deliberate attempt to disable and endanger those sworn to uphold the law.

The situation escalated rapidly. According to the felony information, Leyva didn’t stop at damaging vehicles. He drove his car directly at a USMS Federally Deputized Task Force Officer (TFO) who had already exited his vehicle, rendered useless by Leyva’s initial assault. The TFO was forced to discharge his firearm in an attempt to halt Leyva’s deadly trajectory, only narrowly avoiding a far more tragic outcome.

In court, Leyva admitted to using his vehicle as a deadly weapon, motivated by an outstanding warrant for his arrest. He confirmed driving directly towards the TFO, only swerving at the last moment when confronted with the officer’s defensive gunfire. This admission sealed his fate, solidifying the case against him and paving the way for the agreed-upon sentence.

The investigation, a collaborative effort between the FBI’s Las Cruces office, the USMS, and the Las Cruces Police Department, paints a clear picture of reckless endangerment and a blatant disregard for the lives of those serving the public. This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by law enforcement officers every day.

Leyva remains in federal custody, awaiting a sentencing hearing date to be determined by the court. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah M. Davenport, of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office, prosecuted the case, ensuring that Leyva will be held accountable for his violent actions. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing when it is announced.