Clovis Man Dies 3 Days After Mugging, Police Still Searching for Suspect
By: Steven Poeling
Updated: January 10, 2013
Clovis - January 09, 2013 - On Friday, January 04, 2013, at approximately 7:46 AM, the Clovis Police Department Dispatch Center received a 911 call with information someone had been robbed of his wallet and cell phone and beaten in the west alley of the 1100 block of Mitchell Street just north of the Allsup's Store. Officers made contact with the victim identified as 61 year-old Joe Garcia of Clovis at his apartment located in the 1500 block of North Mitchell Street. Mr. Garcia had sustained facial and head injuries from being tackled and beaten in the alley near the Allsup's at 11th and Mitchell. Mr. Garcia was transported to Plains Regional Medical Center to be treated. From there, Mr. Garcia was subsequently transported to UMC Hospital in Lubbock, Texas to be treated for a broken jaw in three places and brain bleeds in his head believed to be caused from the beating during the robbery. Mr. Garcia was subsequently released from the hospital in Lubbock, Texas on the next day on Saturday, January 5, 2013 and returned home to Clovis to an address on Gidding Street to be cared for by his daughter's family.
On January 7, 2013 at approximately 6:47 PM Clovis Fire Department Ambulance was dispatched to the home on Gidding Street in reference to Mr. Joe Garcia not breathing and being unresponsive. Medical crews tried to revive Mr. Garcia at the scene and during transport to Plains Regional Medical Center without success. Mr. Garcia was pronounced dead by emergency room personnel shortly after arriving at the hospital. Clovis Police Detectives were notified of the death by Clovis Police Field Officers due to the robbery and beating that had occurred to Mr. Garcia just the Friday before and the possibility that his death could be attributed to the beating and injuries incurred during the robbery. Mr. Garcia's body was transported to the Office of the Medical Investigator for autopsy in Albuquerque for an official determination of manner and cause of death.
An criminal investigation is being conducted by members of the 9th Judicial District Major Crimes Unit and Clovis Police Department Special Operations Detective Unit. The investigation continues with the collection of evidence and interviews. There is no identified suspect in this case at this time.
No other information is available at this time due to the on-going investigation. An update will be provided at a later date when a suspect is developed in the case.
