Let friends in your social network know what you are reading about Facebook Email Alamogordo man accused of crashing truck into Washington Federal Bank, DUI An Alamogordo bank got an unexpected deposit Sunday evening after Joseph W. Boomgaarn was accused of crashing his truck into Washington Federal Bank. Post to Facebook Alamogordo man accused of crashing truck into Washington Federal Bank, DUI An Alamogordo bank got an unexpected deposit Sunday evening after Joseph W. Boomgaarn was accused of crashing his truck into Washington Federal Bank. Check out this story on ElPasoTimes.com: https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/crime/2018/11/28/alamogordo-police-arrest-dui-crash-bank-western-federal-crime-otero-county/2142456002/ Cancel Send A link has been sent to your friend's email address. Posted! A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. Join the Conversation To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs Alamogordo man accused of crashing truck into Washington Federal Bank, DUI Dylan Taylor-Lehman, Alamogordo Daily News Published 3:29 p.m. MT Nov. 28, 2018 Buy Photo Washington Federal Bank employees clean up the mess made after a truck drove through the bank's south wall Sunday evening. (Photo: Dylan Taylor-Lehman/Daily News) Buy Photo CONNECT COMMENT EMAIL MORE ALAMOGORDO — Alamogordo Police Department officers arrested a 41-year-old man accused of driving under the influence after he crashed his pickup into the Washington Federal Bank at 300 E. First St. on Sunday evening, officials said. Joseph W. Boomgaarn, of Alamogordo, is charged with one count each of misdemeanor driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs (third offense), misdemeanor reckless driving, misdemeanor immediate notice of accidents and fourth-degree felony criminal damage to property over $1,000. Boomgaarn also was arrested on a New Mexico Adult Probation and Parole warrant over an alleged probation violation. MORE: Crash survivor fatally struck by passing car in Otero County He was jailed at the Otero County Detention Center pending a court appearance. Police Chief Brian Peete said officers responded to an accident at Washington Federal Bank around 6:40 p.m. Sunday. Buy Photo
The drive-thru services of Washington Federal Bank in Alamogordo closed after a truck crashed into the building Sunday evening. (Photo: Dylan Taylor-Lehman/Daily News) According to Magistrate Court records, Boomgaarn was driving his 2016 black Dodge Ram truck in the Walmart parking lot, then drove northbound in Row 10 of the lot. Boomgaarn allegedly continued driving across the parking lot, then crashed through Washington Federal’s drive-thru teller booths and into the bank building, according to court records obtained by the Daily News. Records show the incident caused an estimated $100,000 in damage to the building. Peete said Boomgaarn allegedly fled the scene of the accident, but officers were able to arrest him about an hour after the crash when Boomgaarn voluntarily went into police headquarters to talk with officers about the wreck. He said Boomgaarn only suffered some minor scratches.
The driver of the truck was unhurt and fled the scene after the crash Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018, police said. (Photo: Courtesy Alamogordo Police Department) Peete said the Police Department is continuing to investigate. “Blood was drawn and we’re waiting to get the toxicology reports back,” he said. “We are investigating his motive if this was a deliberate incident or if this was strictly a DUI. We don’t think it was alcohol — we think it was drug-related.” Washington Federal Bank Senior Vice President Division Manager Lonnie Corral said no one was injured during the incident and no money was taken from the bank. “We’re grateful that his happened when no one was here on a Sunday,” Corral said. “No one was injured — we’re very grateful and thankful that that didn’t happen.” Buy Photo
An official from Washington Federal Bank hoped to have some of its services operational in the next few days. (Photo: Dylan Taylor-Lehman/Daily News) He said he hoped to reopen the bank within a day or two. Corral said he planned to have the debris cleaned up and to at least get the bank’s ATMs operational as soon as possible. MORE: Alamogordo leaders reflect on Thanksgiving “It’s an unfortunate situation, and we hate to see something like this happen during the holidays,” he said. “We want to do our best to get our bank to operational status, so we can serve our communities like we have been doing. We’re working as hard as possible to get all the people in here to help us through this quickly.” Corral said the incident is a first for the Alamogordo branch. “This is very unique,” he said. “Of the 25 years that I’ve been in banking, I don’t think I’ve literally seen an incident like this. We’ve had small incidents where someone will accidentally hit one of our ATMs or drive-thru lanes, but nothing as big as this.” CONNECT COMMENT EMAIL MORE Read or Share this story: https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/crime/2018/11/28/alamogordo-police-arrest-dui-crash-bank-western-federal-crime-otero-county/2142456002/ From The USA TODAY NETWORK These sites are part of the USA TODAY NETWORK. Their content is produced independently from our newsrooms. More Stories
