Los Alamos Police arrest three in string of storage-unit burglaries; K-9 assists

Three people were arrested in Los Alamos after officers responding to a report of two men returning to the J&L Storage facility encountered fleeing suspects in the early morning hours of Feb. 17, 2026. The Los Alamos Police Department said the call came in at approximately 3:30 a.m., prompting an immediate perimeter and containment effort around the storage site.

Officers arriving at the J&L Storage facility observed two males running on foot and set up a perimeter while requesting additional resources, including K-9 support. During the pre-dawn operation, officers reported seeing a red sedan circling the storage area for an extended period in a manner that drew attention, leading to a traffic stop later that morning.

The driver of the red sedan was identified as Samantha Lopez. Lopez was taken into custody without incident and charged with possession of burglary tools and conspiracy to commit burglary, Los Alamos Police Department officials said. No weapons or injuries were reported during the traffic stop, and Lopez’s arrest followed standard on-scene investigation procedures.

After daybreak, with assistance from a K-9 unit provided by the Pojoaque Police Department, officers located two additional suspects hiding in dense brush in the south canyon area adjacent to the Smith’s Food and Drug parking lot. The two were identified as Gunner Stacy and Nehemiah Hillhouse and were taken into custody without incident; at this time investigators have not listed formal charges for Stacy or Hillhouse.

Investigators believe the three arrests are connected to multiple recent storage-unit burglaries in the Los Alamos area, and the case remains an active investigation as it is reviewed with the prosecutor’s office. Officials said additional charges may be filed pending that review. Anyone with information related to recent storage unit burglaries is asked to contact the Los Alamos Police Department at 505-662-8222.

Commander Chris Ross commented on the multiagency response: “This incident demonstrates the coordinated efforts of our patrol officers and regional law enforcement partners. The effective use of perimeter containment and K‑9 resources contributed to the safe apprehension of all involved. We believe these arrests have made our community safer.” The department said it will release further details, including any charges against the two suspects found in brush, as prosecutors file formal counts.