During Operation Route 66, a focused crime suppression effort conducted by the New Mexico State Police (NMSP), authorities successfully apprehended a man wanted for first-degree murder on March 3, 2025.
The suspect in question has been identified as Dennis Wallace, a 58-year-old individual. Law enforcement authorities were able to identify him after they came across a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and ran its registration through the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). The system promptly alerted the officials that Wallace was the registered owner of the motorcycle and had an active warrant for first-degree murder.
Undercover agents traced Wallace’s whereabouts to an apartment complex on Carlisle Boulevard and verified that he was indeed the motorcyclist. After he entered the residence, law enforcement officers continued to monitor the situation and obtained a search warrant to apprehend him inside the apartment.
The NMSP Special Operations Bureau carried out the warrant and successfully apprehended Wallace without any issues. Wallace was then taken to the Metropolitan Detention Center, where he is currently being held on the outstanding murder charge.
“The New Mexico State Police will continue to collaborate with the 2 nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office and our other law enforcement partners to remove dangerous criminals from our streets and create a safer environment for everyone in New Mexico,” an NMSP spokesperson wrote.
Operation Route 66 is a key component of a broader effort to minimize instances of violent crime, apprehend fugitives, and improve overall public safety throughout the state.