Deming Police nab a familiar face in botched burglary attempt on historic Silver Avenue
DEMING – Deming police encountered a familiar face early Tuesday morning in Deming’s historic Silver Avenue business district. At about 6:31 a.m., Deming police were dispatched to a motion-activated alarm at Stagecoach Depot Deming Mercantile at the 100 block of South Silver Ave. Upon arrival, police saw a man inside the store who fled toward the back of the business and was hiding out.
Over the next three hours, officers from the Deming Police Department and New Mexico State Police scoured the business in search of the suspect who managed to elude and conceal himself from law enforcement. Finally, Sean Chesser, 34, of Santa Fe, NM was arrested.
Chesser had hidden himself in a corner of the attic and was given several commands to come out in view. When Chesser did not obey commands, he was pepper sprayed and eventually surrendered without incident. He was loaded into an ambulance and whisked away to Mimbres Memorial Hospital for observation.
The business is one of the oldest and largest buildings in the downtown district and was known as the Ranch Bar for most of its history. It also served as a pool hall for many decades, dating as far back at 1918, and is on New Mexico’s Historical Register. The ceiling tiles are copper and many of them were damaged by Chesser during his concealment. Damage to the ceiling is estimated at $10,000. A side of the building is adorned with vintage advertising artwork, facing an alley.
Most of the city’s downtown businesses have basements and attics, or lofts. Some of the early buildings are also known to have a network of underground earthen tunnels which made the search for Chesser more difficult.
Law enforcement searched high and low – including up on top of the building’s roof during the incident. He has been charged with Burglary, Breaking and Entering, Criminal Damage to Property (over $1,000) Possession of Burglary Tools, Resisting, Evading or Obstructing and Officer, and a felony warrant out of Luna County Magistrate Court for two counts of Forgery and two counts of Unlawful to Issue.
A bag Chesser dropped during his attempt to escape contained jewelry and a hammer from the Stagecoach Depot Deming Mercantile.
Chesser became a familiar face with Deming PD when he was arrested in connection with the January 21st burglary of the Deming Tractor Supply Co. Store at 414 E. Pine Street. Chesser allegedly knocked out cinder blocks to a wall to gain entrance to the store.
Over $6,000 in merchandise – mostly jewelry – was recovered from that burglary when Chesser was stopped for suspicious activity in the early-morning hours of the following day. He was on a bicycle, dressed in a black hoodie with a backpack and no lights. Chesser carried two bags that he attempted to ditch while fleeing from officers.
Through an investigation initiated by a patrol sergeant, the name of Sean Chesser was first brought to the department's attention back on Jan. 16th when he was investigated on a shoplifting call at the Shoe Department located at 800 E. Cedar St.
During that investigation, officers conducted a search warrant of Chesser’s vehicle and located approximately 10 grams of methamphetamines, a firearm and multiple items reported stolen in at least one other burglary.
The firearm and drug offenses could warrant federal charges.
Bill Armendariz can be reached at 575-546-2611 (leave a message) or biarmendariz@demingheadlight.com.
This article originally appeared on Deming Headlight: Deming Police nab a familiar face in botched burglary on Silver Avenue
