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Guard Force nabs robbery suspect, recovers stolen property

A 21-year-old Albuquerque man has been charged with robbery in connection with an early-evening altercation in a Laboratory parking lot on Nov. 8. The man, Johnny Otero, is accused of punching Laboratory employee Daniel James, Atomic and Optical Theory (T-4), and robbing him of his wallet and personal identification, according to Los Alamos police. James was preparing to leave work at about 6:30 p.m., when the robbery took place. James was not seriously hurt.

If not for the quick actions of the Protection Technology Los Alamos protective force, the incident could have been much worse, according to Security and Safeguards (S) Division. Lt. Matt Pound of PTLA had been observing and following a suspicious Cadillac sedan traveling at a high rate of speed on Lab property near Diamond Drive and Eniwetok Road, and arrived at the scene of the incident as it was happening, according to the PTLA incident report. The suspect jumped back in the car and tried to get away, but Pound gave pursuit and was quickly joined by several additional pro-force officers. The PTLA officers stopped the suspicious vehicle and took the man and his two passengers into custody. The stolen property was recovered, and the three were immediately turned over to Los Alamos Police. Only Otero has been charged.

"I initially thought they [the suspects] were stopping to ask directions," said James, who is a citizen of the United Kingdom. "The fact that the guards turned up in force and so quickly was very reassuring. If anyone wanted to make a big deal out of this, they should make a big deal out of how well the PTLA force responded." Just this summer, James was part of the international team at the University of Innsbruck, Austria, that made the first demonstration of quantum teleportation of an atom. This was the first time quantum teleportation had been achieved with actual particles - as opposed to beams of light - and the first time it had been demonstrated in an entirely deliberate and controllable manner.

The Nov. 8 incident illustrates the need for all employees to be fully aware of their surroundings when arriving or leaving work, or anytime they are in a parking lot, especially before sunrise or after dark, according to S Division. Security officials suggests a couple of simple techniques that can make a safety difference: If you know you're likely to be coming or going in the dark, try to park in a lot that is busy and well lit if you can, and if possible, try to move in pairs through parking lots at night.

As always, S Division encourages employees who observe any suspicious vehicles or persons to notify security immediately.

According to S Division, the resolution of the incident also demonstrates that the Laboratory has an exceptionally well-trained guard force that responds quickly, professionally and appropriately when called upon.

--Kevin Roark

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