Men chain unhoused man to Jeep and drag him because he wouldn’t move, NM cops say

Two men were arrested after being accused of chaining a 50-year-old unhoused man to a Jeep and dragging him, New Mexico officials said.

Police in Santa Fe responded to a Speedway gas station after getting reports from the fire department that two men had been seen dragging someone through the parking lot with a Jeep, according to a Dec. 20 Facebook post by police.

Adrian Montoya, 31, was the driver of the Jeep and was seen dragging a man later identified as Julian Perez by a chain attached to his legs, according to a probable cause statement obtained by McClatchy News.

Jonathan Gomez, 22, was also involved in the incident, police said.

After officials got to the scene, Gomez told them he works for the gas station and noticed Perez sleeping on the gas station’s property, according to police. He told police he tried to wake him up and ask him to move.

After Perez didn’t reply, Gomez said he “decided to call the non-emergency (dispatch) number but they kept hanging up on him,” officials said.

Gomez said he called Montoya, his manager, and they were still unable to wake Perez up, according to police.

Gomez said he kept trying to call the non-emergency phone number as Montoya got a chain from his vehicle, authorities said. The chain was then attached to the man’s feet, and he was dragged, police said.

Officers found a video uploaded to Gomez’ Instagram, and he was heard saying they had dragged the man with a Jeep, police said. Gomez was laughing in the video, authorities said.

The officer on the scene said they smelled alcohol coming from Montoya and he was arrested, police said.

Montoya was charged with kidnapping, aggravated battery, conspiracy, tampering with evidence and driving while intoxicated, police said.

Gomez was charged with kidnapping, aggravated battery and conspiracy, officers said.

The victim was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries, police said.

McClatchy News could not reach Speedway gas station for comment on Dec. 21.

Police said the investigation is ongoing.

Santa Fe is about 60 miles northeast of Albuquerque.

This story was originally published December 21, 2023 at 4:30 PM with the headline "Men chain unhoused man to Jeep and drag him because he wouldn’t move, NM cops say."