Cops & courts: Schools receive payment for contract dispute

Clovis schools recently received a one-time payment of $35,000 after a settlement was reached over a beverage contract dispute.

The settlement, signed in November and released to the Clovis News Journal last week, was made after officials said Clovis schools was owed about $42,000 in commissions from a 2000 contract with PepsiCo.

The contract was negotiated by the New Mexico Research and Study Council, a nonprofit organization.

In the settlement, the parties recognize that commissions were affected by Clovis schools’ decision to add Dr Pepper and a reduction of marketing of soft drinks in order to improve student nutrition.

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Mike Ingram of the Clovis Police Department was promoted to captain on Monday, according to a press release from Clovis police.

Hired in 1982 as a patrol officer, the former lieutenant has been a member of a number of specialty units in the past, including the department’s dive team, SWAT team and Gang Unit.

A graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Academy, Ingram said he’s looking forward to the challenge ahead. His new duties include supervising the records section, animal control, dispatch and training and recruiting.

“(The promotion) was kind of humbling because of the positive support I got. I’m real excited about opportunity to move the department forward,” Ingram said.

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Clovis police are asking for public help in finding information that would help lead to arrests in several unsolved crimes:

• Police are searching for the whereabouts of a man wanted in connection with the April 16, 2000, slaying of Juan Vega, who died after being shot in the 500 block of Dawn Loop.

Detectives are searching for information on Cecilio Gomez, a 5-foot-9 Hispanic male weighing about 190 pounds with black hair and brown eyes, a press release from the police department shows. A warrant for Gomez’s arrest was filed the day on the slaying, the release said.

• Police are also searching for information related to the September slaying of Michael Binder, found dead in his home at 1725 Gidding Street. Police are investigating the death as homicide but have yet to name any suspects.

• Police are looking for information related to the Aug. 21 slaying of Tony Parker, who died at the Clovis Apartments from gunshot wounds he sustained. Byron Logan, 22, of Clovis, is charged with an open count of murder in the death, but police believe more people may have been involved, a police press release shows.

• Police are also searching for information related to the Oct. 23 arson fire at Bender Chevrolet at 2620 Mabry Drive, the press release shows.

Aaron Quinones, 20, of Clovis, was arrested on Nov. 23 after detectives with the Clovis Police Department matched shoe prints taken from the scene with Quinones’ shoes, court records show. He’s charged with breaking and entering (fourth-degree felony) and arson over $1,000 (third-degree felony), court records show.

Police believe Quinones may have acted with the assistance of another person, the press release shows.

Anyone with information related to any of these crimes can call Curry County Crime Stoppers at 763-7000. Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest and or conviction of criminal offenders.

Cops and Courts is compiled by CNJ news editor Mike Linn. He can be contacted at 763-6991 or: [email protected]