CARLSBAD, N.M. (KRQE) – A New Mexico man with an extended legal historical past is accused of a horrific crime. Kenneth Colby Miller is accused of raping a fuel station clerk in the course of the day. Court docket data present he was launched from jail simply hours earlier than the incident.
An alleged crime spree in Carlsbad final weekend began early within the day for Kenneth Colby Miller. It began with an tried theft of a person outdoors of a Buffalo Wild Wings and a theft at a neighborhood sporting items retailer, however issues rapidly took a darkish flip.
“We really obtained a name for service by way of phone to our dispatch heart at 4:15 p.m.,” stated Particular Operations Capt. Jessie Rodriguez with the Carlsbad Police Dept. “The preliminary report was from an worker on the enterprise that reported that Mr. Miller had entered the property, attacked her, then proceeded to rape her.”
Miller’s arrest warrant paints a virtually hour-long assault of a Carlsbad fuel station clerk compelled right into a again workplace earlier than she was ultimately in a position to escape and get assist. KRQE is just not disclosing the title of the fuel station in an try to guard the sufferer’s id. All of it occurred in the course of the afternoon on Feb. 13.
“This was a Sunday,” stated Capt. Rodriguez. “It’s through the day, by all accounts, unprovoked.”
Jail data present the 37-year-old was launched from the Eddy Co. Detention Middle simply hours earlier that very same day for a trespassing case earlier than winding up again in cuffs. It took a Carlsbad SWAT group tasers to get a barricaded Miller out of the fuel station kitchen.
“It’s disheartening to see somebody having simply been launched earlier within the morning after which goes and commits some severe, severe crimes,” stated Rodriguez. “I feel as a regulation enforcement official within the state of New Mexico, all of us have a vested curiosity to guard our communities to the most effective of our talents.”
Maybe one of the crucial surprising elements is how this occurred in a public enterprise in the course of the day — and went on for thus lengthy. Police say whereas it’s vital to not intervene if you happen to can’t deal with the scenario, report something that appears suspicious.
“I might by no means ask anyone to intervene in the event that they’re not able to dealing with the scenario,” stated Rodriguez. “Be a superb witness and say one thing, do one thing, name for assist.”
Miller already has a prolonged legal historical past of aggravated battery on a family member, false imprisonment, auto theft and extra. Now, he faces three felony counts of legal sexual penetration, felony theft and petty larceny.
The state is submitting an expedited movement for pretrial detention, stating that after Miller was launched following previous felony crimes, he violated his probation a number of occasions. He’s anticipated again in court docket for that pre-trial detention listening to Friday morning.