By C1 Staff
SOCORRO, NM — Three Socorro County correctional officers are in trouble after a night of drinking led to a physical altercation.
KRQE reports that four women — Michelle Thorne, Danielle Silva, Margaret Romero and Amanda Vega — were drinking at a private home when an argument broke out. Thorne wanted to leave, but the other three wouldn’t let her because they wanted to remove inappropriate videos from Thorne’s phone, according to a criminal complaint.
Silva, Romero and Vega were all correctional officers at the time. Silva and Vega blocked the doorway Thorne was attempting to exit through, but Thorne eventually made it out to her car.
While she was getting into her vehicle, Silva grabbed Thorne by the hair and pulled her out of the car. Silva then jumped on Thorne and began to punch her in the face.
Thorne was left with a black eye and a swollen, bleeding lip.
All three officers were placed on immediate leave pending an internal investigation. Vega and Silva resigned immediately. Romero still works for the county.
The attorney for Silva and Romero said the accusations are false. All three are charged with false imprisonment and interference with communication. Silva is also charged with aggravated battery and assault.