City of Las Cruces v. Sanchez

OPINION

CHÁVEZ, Chief Justice.

{1} Defendant Steven Sanchez (Defendant) was tried in Las Cruces Municipal Court for violating several municipal ordinances. After ruling mid-trial that Defendant’s arrest was illegal, the municipal court judge dismissed the charges. The City of Las Cruces (the City) appealed to the district court. Believing that the City had no right to appeal to the district court, the court dismissed the City’s appeal. We reverse and remand.

I. BACKGROUND

{2} Early in the morning of July 3, 2005, a truck crashed into a Las Cruces home. 1 Witnesses saw two people flee on foot and…