WE’RE LEARNING MORE ABOUT WHO PULLED THE TRIGGER IN AN OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING IN PORTALES BACK ON JANUARY 15TH. NEW MEXICO STATE POLICE SAY IT WAS ROOSEVELT COUNTY SHERIFF MALIN PARKER WHO OPENED FIRE ON 48 YEAR OLD JAMES WALLACE MCFARLIN, WOUNDING HIM. MCFARLIN IS RECOVERING IN THE HOSPITAL.
THE INCIDENT BEGAN AFTER DEPUTIES LEARNED THAT MCFARLIN WAS DRIVING A FRONT-END LOADER AND ATTEMPTING TO FLIP OVER A VEHICLE. SHERIFF PARKER, FEARING THAT MCFARLIN WOULD ENDANGER OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, FIRED HIS GUN, HITTING THE SUSPECT IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD.
PARKER IS AN 18 YEAR VETERAN OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND HAS SERVED AS ROOSEVELT COUNTY SHERIFF FOR THREE YEARS.
