On, July 5, 2026, Cuba Police Officer Lopez responded to assist the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office on a reported domestic disturbance that quickly escalated into a violent encounter.
Upon arrival, Officer Lopez immediately encountered Isaiah Romero, who was shirtless, visibly agitated, and directing his anger toward law enforcement. Mr. Romero repeatedly yelled for Officer Lopez to leave the property while advancing toward him with clenched fists, a clenched jaw, and aggressive body language. Recognizing the potential for violence, Officer Lopez attempted to de-escalate the situation by calmly explaining that he was there only to determine what had occurred and was not looking for a confrontation. Despite those efforts, Mr. Romero continued acting aggressively.
While awaiting the arrival of additional units, the situation escalated further. Mr. Romero suddenly charged at a family member, knocking him backward and repeatedly punching him in the face. Officer Lopez immediately intervened and gave multiple loud verbal commands for the assault to stop.
Instead of complying, Mr. Romero redirected his aggression toward Officer Lopez and charged at him. After repeated lawful commands were ignored and faced with an immediate threat, Officer Lopez deployed his Taser in an effort to stop the attack. The initial deployment was ineffective, and Mr. Romero continued advancing. A second Taser deployment successfully stopped the assault, allowing Officer Lopez to safely place Mr. Romero into custody. Deputies with the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office arrived moments later and assisted with the arrest as Mr. Romero continued resisting.
