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Christopher Smelser

  • Christopher Smelser leaves the courtroom after being found not guilty of second-degree murder. The former Las Cruces police officer was accused of killing Antonio Valenzuela with a controversial chokehold technique during a traffic stop in 2020.
    Local News
    Murder charge dropped against former Las Cruces police officer
    Nash Jones
    A judge Thursday dismissed a second-degree murder charge against former Las Cruces police officer Christopher Smelser. He was accused of killing Antonio Valenzuela with a controversial chokehold technique during a traffic stop in 2020. Justin Garcia, public safety reporter with the Las Cruces Sun-News who's been following the case closely, spoke with KUNM about why it was the judge — not the jury — who declared Smelser not guilty.