Man commits suicide in detention center

PORTALES — A Union County man housed at the Roosevelt County Detention Center hung himself on Nov. 11, according to an in-custody report from detention center staff.

Officials have declined comment on the death of Eric Padilla, 37. The News acquired the report via a public records request.

According to the report:

• Padilla was found in his cell unresponsive at 12:24 a.m. Nov. 11.

• An officer doing rounds observed Padilla hanging from his bunk with a pair of socks tied around his neck. The officer entered the cell, cut the socks and began performing CPR.

• A nurse and an emergency response team took over CPR, but were unsuccessful in resuscitating him. Padilla was placed in a body bag with the socks and a suicide note that was found in the cell.

• Detention Administrator Justin Porter was advised of the situation just after 1 a.m., and officers did a status check on all other detainees. None of the detainees reported any issues.

Padilla was first booked into the facility March 18 on failure to comply with conditions of release on four counts of aggravated battery and two counts of aggravated stalking. He was housed in general population and was at the time in a cell by himself.