The man suspected of forcing his ex-girlfriend’s vehicle off the roadway and starting a large affray has been charged with three felonies.
Anthony “Dingy” Estrada, 41, of Isolation Point in the unincorporated East Mesa, is charged with third-degree felony counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and child abuse, and a fourth-degree felony count of aggravated stalking.
About 3:20 p.m. on Saturday, March 7, Las Cruces police were dispatched to the report of a large affray near the entrance of a gas station at 3040 N. Main St. Officers learned Estrada had forced his ex-girlfriend’s vehicle off the roadway. Once the vehicle, and three other vehicles traveling together, stopped, Estrada allegedly armed himself with a pocketknife and approached his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend.
Witnesses told police Estrada used the pocketknife to threaten several people. Investigators learned a 15-year-old passenger in one of the vehicles armed himself with a baseball bat and used it to help defend others from Estrada’s attack.
During the affray, Estrada allegedly punched a 30-year-old woman who tried to intervene and shoved his own teenage daughter. The 30-year-old woman’s ear was cut when Estrada, armed with a pocketknife at the time, punched her. No major injuries were reported.
Estrada eventually drove off in his pickup with his new girlfriend and her 2-year-old daughter. Police detained Estrada after conducting a traffic stop near Mulberry Avenue and Debra Street.
Investigators determined Estrada had an active order of protection forbidding him from having contact with his ex-girlfriend.
Estrada was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center where he’s initially being held without bond.