Taos man arrested near Raton on kidnapping charges

Nicholas Gilmore, The Santa Fe New Mexican
Updated ·1 min read

Apr. 11—A judge has ordered a Taos man be returned to Taos where he faces two felony counts of second degree kidnapping.

Police said Ramon Romero, 22, forced a woman and their 1-year-old baby into a vehicle Wednesday in Ranchos de Taos and drove off, passing through Española and eventually reaching Interstate 25, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

Romero was arrested Wednesday night near Raton.

New Mexico State Police went to the Ranchos de Taos residence in response to a domestic violence call at about 3:40 p.m. Wednesday, the affidavit states.

Multiple witnesses said a woman ran across the street for help and borrowed a neighbor's phone to dial 911 after Romero took her phone away. Afterward, the witnesses told police, Romero drove up in a gold SUV and forced the woman in before driving off.

"Witnesses stated they observed Ramon hand over the baby to [the woman] and then forced them both into the vehicle," the affidavit states.

State police filed the felony counts against Romero in Taos County Magistrate Court. On Thursday, a judge ordered Ramon transported back to Taos to face the charges.