By Roger Lanse

Responding to a welfare check, Silver City Police officers arrived at 1418 Pine Street Tuesday, Feb. 20, just before 4 p.m. to find Joshua Padilla, 25, of Silver City, walking to the front door of the residence. An SCPD report narrative stated that when Padilla was asked what he was doing, he answered just "chillin.'" When officers entered the residence they had contact at the front door with an unidentified female, and coming out of a back bedroom, an adult male. The report stated the adult male (the victim) had an extremely swollen nose, bloody and swollen lips, and that his hands and shirt were "full of blood." There was also a large amount of blood on the living room floor observed by the officers.

As officers continued to clear the residence, they discovered in one bedroom, Tad Armstead, 36, of Silver City, hiding behind a recliner. They also found in another bedroom, the report said, a large number of syringes, both capped and uncapped. Throughout the house, the report stated, several syringes and tin "cookers" with cotton inside were observed.

The victim told the officers that he was there to pack up his things and leave, and that Armstead and the female had been staying at the residence while Padilla was in jail. The victim stated when Padilla arrived he began accusing the victim of stealing his belongings, and when the victim tried to get up from the floor where he had been sitting, Armstead hit him in the face and when he fell to the floor, Armstead hit him "a few more times."

According to the report, when officers asked the victim if Padilla and Armstead allowed him to leave at any point, the victim stated "no," that he was blocked in by the two and that he wanted to pursue charges.

Neither Padilla, nor Armstead, nor the female, expressed any knowledge of what happened to the victim, the report said.

Padilla was charged with robbery and false imprisonment; Armstead with robbery, false imprisonment and misdemeanor aggravated battery; and both were transported to SCPD for paperwork, and then to the Grant County Detention Center for booking.

According to GCDC staff, both men remain in custody. According to Magistrate Court staff, Because of previous warrants, Padilla is being held on a $25,000 unsecured bond. Armstead is being held under a $75,000 cash or surety bond plus GPS monitoring.