Lincoln County Sheriff's Office

Lincoln County Sheriff's Office In an emergency, dial 911. Posting on this page constitutes acceptance of the "Terms of Use."

Terms of Use

MAY 12, 2019

Lincoln County, New Mexico Sheriff’s Office Facebook Terms

This is the official page of the Lincoln County, NM Sheriff’s Office. This page was created to provide people who live and work in Lincoln County,NM or others with an interest in the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, access to information about the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and a platform with which to interact with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office. This page is monitored and managed by the staff of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office manages this page as a limited public forum and therefore the following conditions apply.

• A posting on this page constitutes acceptance of these terms.

• In case of emergency, or if you need law enforcement assistance, dial 911.

• Do not use this page to report a crime. To report a crime, contact the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office at (575)648-2341.

• If you post information related to a crime on this page, you may be placing yourself in the position of becoming a witness to a crime and subject yourself to subpoena and in certain situations endangering yourself or others.

• “Friending” between officers and a citizen does not indicate endorsement of that person’s actions or comments.

• Comments posted by others on the page(s) are not to be considered the opinion of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office; nor does the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office endorse any third-party comments on this page.

• The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office reserves the right to remove and/or block anyone who posts inappropriate material as determined by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.

• The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office does not allow posting of photos or videos by anyone other than members of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.

• If you have photos or videos you’d like to share on this page, contact the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.

• If you are looking for more information about the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, please visit https://www.lincolncountynm.gov/county-offices/elected-officials/sheriff/

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office welcomes a person’s right to express his/her opinion and encourages posters to keep comments related to content on this page. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office reserves the right to remove any comments that are inappropriate or offensive, including but not limited to comments that:

• defame, abuse, harass, stalk, threaten or violate the legal rights of others;

• include racism, hatred, slander, threats, obscenity, violence, vulgarity;

• spam or advertise;

• could harm the safety or well-being of one of our employees, including personal attacks;

• are off-topic;

• have personal information about another person or that violate a person’s privacy;

• include copyrighted material that belongs to another person;

• contain links to inappropriate websites.

6:35 PM UPDATE: ALL EVACUATIONS IN THE RUIDOSO DOWNS AREA HAVE BEEN LIFTED. ⚠️ FLASH FLOODING – RUIDOSO DOWNS & AREAS EA...
09/17/2026

6:35 PM UPDATE: ALL EVACUATIONS IN THE RUIDOSO DOWNS AREA HAVE BEEN LIFTED.

⚠️ FLASH FLOODING – RUIDOSO DOWNS & AREAS EAST ⚠️

Residents in Ruidoso Downs and areas to the east are urged to remain alert for the potential for flash flooding as repeated rounds of thunderstorms move through the area over the next several hours.

Areas of particular concern at this time include Turkey Canyon and River Lane east to Buckhorn Loop.

Heavy rainfall may cause rapidly rising water and hazardous roadway conditions. Please use caution, never attempt to cross a flooded roadway, and be mindful of first responders and other personnel moving through the affected areas.

🌧️ Stay weather aware and be prepared for conditions to change quickly.
🚧 Turn Around, Don’t Drown.

Please also be advised there is a shelter setup at the Ruidoso Downs Senior Center for any evacuees.

Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office
Lincoln County Office of Emergency Services

09/11/2026
09/02/2026

****UPDATE****

Good morning, Lincoln County, New Mexico. At approximately 0358 hours, Deputies from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office...
09/02/2026

Good morning, Lincoln County, New Mexico.

At approximately 0358 hours, Deputies from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office attempted to pull over a vehicle inside the Village of Ruidoso.

The vehicle fled and subsequently crashed in the area of Flume canyon. The Driver a male subject and female passenger fled on foot towards the Mescalero Apache Reservation.

Please keep your doors locked and if you see anything suspicious please call 911. Deputies along with the Ruidoso Police Department will be in the area attempting to locate and arrest them.

Thank you,
Undersheriff Alex Trujillo.

FOUND DOGS – OWNER INFORMATION NEEDED At the request of a U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer, we are asking for...
08/22/2026

FOUND DOGS – OWNER INFORMATION NEEDED

At the request of a U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer, we are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the owners of three dogs found running at large in the Lincoln National Forest.

The dogs were located in the area of Dry Mills Canyon Trailhead #24 and Forest Road 117, and are still running at large.

If you recognize these dogs or have any information that may help locate their owners, please contact:

U.S. Forest Service: (575) 257-4095
Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office: (575) 648-2341

LCSO can also assist in putting you in contact with the Forest Service.

Please share to help us get these forest adventurers back where they belong!

08/16/2026

Ongoing Flash Flooding
Sunday, August 16, 2026

4:25 PM UPDATE

Brady Canyon

Ruidoso OEM: 𝗙𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗼𝗻. Rapidly rising floodwaters reported. Move immediately to higher ground and away from the canyon bottom. Do NOT cross flooded roads or low-water crossings. Be prepared to evacuate if conditions worsen. Updates: 1490 AM, 99.1 FM, or Village of Ruidoso social media.

Ruidoso OEM. Flooding is OBSERVED in Brady Canyon. MOVE to higher ground.

Ruidoso Emergency Management: Flash Flooding is OBSERVED in Brady Canyon.

Rapidly rising floodwaters have been reported in the Brady Canyon area. For your safety move immediately to higher ground or shelter in place on high ground! Do not cross low water points or water over the road. More Info can be found by tuning into 1490 AM & 99.1 FM

——

4:04 PM UPDATE

Upper Canyon

𝗙𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗼𝗻. Rapidly rising floodwaters reported. Move immediately to higher ground or shelter on high ground. Do NOT cross flooded roads or low-water crossings. Be prepared to evacuate. Updates via 1490 AM, 99.1 FM, or the Village of Ruidoso social media.

——

4:00 PM UPDATE

Rio Ruidoso

Ruidoso Emergency Management: 𝗙𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗼 𝗥𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗼𝘀𝗼. Rapidly rising river levels may cause flooding with little warning. Move immediately to higher ground and away from the river. Do NOT enter flooded areas or cross water-covered roads. Be prepared to evacuate.

Updates: 1490 AM, 99.1 FM, and Village of Ruidoso official social media.

Ruidoso Emergency Management: Flash Flooding is OBSERVED near the Rio Ruidoso. MOVE to higher ground.

Rapidly rising floodwaters have been reported along the Rio Ruidoso. For your safety move immediately to higher ground! Do not delay leaving to gather any belongings or make efforts to protect your home. You can find more information by tuning into 1490 AM or VOR social media channels.

——

Flash Flood Warning issued Sunday, August 16, 2026 at 3:38PM MDT until Sunday, August 16, 2026 at 6:45PM MDT by US National Weather Service Albuquerque New Mexico.

National Weather Service: A FLASH FLOOD WARNING is in effect for this area until 6:45 PM MDT. This is a dangerous and life-threatening situation. Do not attempt to travel unless you are fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order.

The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Flash Flood Warning for the South Fork burn scar in South Central Lincoln County in central New Mexico until 6:45 PM MDT.

At 3:38 PM MDT, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain over the South Fork Burn Scar. Between 0.5 and 1.25 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 0.25 to 0.75 inches are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.

Excessive rainfall over the burn scar will impact:
- Upper Canyon
- Brady Canyon
- Perk Canyon
- Cedar Creek
- Eagle Creek
- Rio Ruidoso drainages

Impacts will include but are not limited to all nearby reservoirs, bridges, culverts and roadways. Impacts to areas along the Rio Ruidoso may extend downstream of Ruidoso Downs. The debris flow can consist of rock, mud, vegetation and other loose materials.

HAZARD
Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms producing flash flooding in and around the South Fork Burn Scar.

SOURCE
Radar and automated gauges.

IMPACT
Life threatening flash flooding of areas in and around the South Fork Burn Scar.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include:
- Ruidoso
- Ruidoso Downs
- Alto
- Glencoe
- Hollywood

This is a life threatening situation. Heavy rainfall will cause extensive and severe flash flooding of creeks, streams and ditches in the South Fork Burn Scar. Severe debris flows can also be anticipated across roads. Roads and driveways may be washed away in places. If you encounter flood waters, climb to safety.

UPDATE: ESCAPED INMATE CAPTUREDThe Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to report that the escaped inmate has been...
08/04/2026

UPDATE: ESCAPED INMATE CAPTURED

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to report that the escaped inmate has been safely apprehended.

Ralph Miranda was taken into custody by Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputies in Carrizozo a short time after escaping from the Lincoln County Detention Center.

Sheriff Michael Wood extends his sincere appreciation to all of the agencies that responded so quickly and worked together during this incident. Their rapid response and coordinated efforts resulted in the inmate’s swift capture, helping to ensure the safety of our community.

We would like to thank:
• Carrizozo Police Department
• New Mexico State Police
• Capitan Police Department
• Ruidoso Police Department
• Lincoln County Office of Emergency Services (OES)
• New Mexico Department of Game and Fish

This incident serves as an excellent example of the strong partnerships that exist among our local and state public safety agencies. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is grateful for the professionalism, teamwork, and dedication displayed by everyone involved.

Thank you to our community for your vigilance, cooperation, and patience during this incident.

The Lincoln County Detention Center is ran by a private corporation (CSG) and a full investigation will be underway.

Thank you again.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is actively searching for an inmate who escaped from the Lincoln County Detention Ce...
08/04/2026

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is actively searching for an inmate who escaped from the Lincoln County Detention Center in Carrizozo within the last hour.

The Sheriff’s Office has requested assistance from the New Mexico State Police and the Carrizozo Police Department. Law enforcement officers are actively searching the area.

Please use caution. Do not approach the individual if you see him. Residents are encouraged to keep doors and vehicles locked, remain aware of their surroundings, and do not pick up hitchhikers until further notice.

If you see the individual or have information regarding his whereabouts, call 911 immediately.

Please help us by sharing this information with others in the area.

Address

300 Central Avenue
Carrizozo, NM
88301

Telephone

+15756482341

Website

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