NMSP News:
COLFAX COUNTY – On August 8, 2024, agents from the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau (NMSP) were called to the intersection of US Highway 64 and US Highway 445 in Colfax County for a police-involved incident (OIS) involving the Colfax County Sheriff’s Office.
Agents learned that at 12:17 p.m., officers with the New Mexico State Police and Colfax County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call in which a man, later identified as Tyrel Richter Cutchie, 42, of Maxwell, NM, was driving a maroon Dodge pickup truck with a camper trailer on State Road 505 and forced a Springer Electric Company vehicle off the road. Cutchie then pointed a gun at the employees in the vehicle.
Officers and deputies arrived at the area and attempted to locate the Dodge. The truck was located on State Road 505 and a traffic stop was initiated. Cutchie initially stopped, but then backed into a New Mexico State Police cruiser and fled the scene in the truck, prompting a brief chase.
A successful Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT) was conducted near the intersection of US 64 and US 445. Cutchie attempted to flee again, but collided head-on with a State Police patrol unit, disabling both vehicles.
At this point in the encounter, two Colfax County officers fired at Cutchie. He was struck by gunfire. Life-saving measures were immediately initiated and emergency personnel were called to the scene. Cutchie unfortunately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by the Medical Examiner’s Office.
Two state police troopers and a Colfax deputy suffered minor injuries in the incident. Please contact the Colfax County Sheriff’s Office for information on the deputies involved and their duty status.
Agents with the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau are currently working to independently determine the sequence of events that led to the shooting, including collecting evidence and conducting interviews. The results of the investigation will be presented to the District Attorney for review and consideration throughout the proceedings.
The New Mexico State Police acts solely as a fact-finder in its cases and does not determine whether an officer’s actions were justified in such cases. That determination rests with the State Attorney’s Office. This incident remains under investigation by the New Mexico State Police.
