Roosevelt sheriff back on the job

CLOVIS — Roosevelt County Sheriff Malin Parker has returned to work after a self-imposed leave following his Jan. 15 shooting of a criminal suspect in Portales.

Parker placed himself on leave sometime after the incident that started with James McFarlin allegedly stealing a front-end loader, said New Mexico State Police Public Information Officer Carl Christiansen.

Christiansen declined to say when Parker returned to work. Parker said Tuesday he was “still in touch with (his) supervisors daily and checking in with them,” but did not respond to questions about when his leave ended. He said Thursday he had returned to active duty.

McFarlin, 48, was charged with unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, aggravated fleeing a law enforcement officer and criminal damage to property after leading officers on a tumultuous chase through fields and fences in Portales, according to court documents.

Parker tried shooting out the tires of the heavy equipment before resorting to deadly force out of fear McFarlin “was going to strike the motoring public or bystanders,” an NMSP news release said.

State police, still investigating the incident, initially said McFarlin's injuries were not life threatening. On Tuesday, they said he remained hospitalized in “stable condition,” but declined to provide an update Friday, citing privacy laws.