License plate recognition system helps NMSP find driver accused of killing cyclist

DEMING, NM (KRQE) – Automated License Plate Recognition helped law enforcement track down a man who reportedly struck and killed a bicyclist in Deming on November 23, according to New Mexico State Police.

Police said the incident happened on State Route 11 near milepost 8. A passing motorist noticed debris and bicycles littering the roadside and stopped to check the area. They called 911 when they saw a man, later identified as 69-year-old Kevin O’Leary, dead next to his bike.

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Police raised the alarm to look for a red vehicle that may have front end damage. Border Patrol and Customs notified NMSP that a vehicle matching this description crossed into Mexico immediately following the crash at the Columbus Port of Entry.

Police identified the driver of the red Cadillac sedan as 33-year-old Noel Ronquillo Jr. He said he was and was taken into custody without incident in Deming on November 25. The suspect is accused of involuntary manslaughter and knowingly leaving the scene of the accident.

“ALPR technology has been widely praised for improving law enforcement’s ability to track and apprehend criminals,” New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler said in a news release. “Within a short time, this system identified a vehicle involved in the murder and led to his arrest. Without this technology, this case might not have been solved so quickly and a dangerous criminal could still be on the street.”

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