Pena Blanca dispensary owner arrested after shooting during altercation

A Pena Blanca pot shop owner was arrested after a woman suffered injuries during an altercation outside his business, law enforcement records show. Collin Sandoval, 42, of Pena Blanca, was taken into custody on Jan. 6 on charges of aggravated assault, aggravated battery and negligent use of a deadly weapon following a disturbance at a storefront near 729 New Mexico Road 22.

Sandoval was detained after a Sandoval County Sheriff's Office officer responding to a separate fight was rerouted to a bait shop next to the cannabis store when dispatch received reports of arguing and the sound of a gunshot at the dispensary. A witness on the line told dispatch they heard one gunshot followed by fighting and yelling; the caller later reported that a man was being held at gunpoint outside the store.

The responding officer observed Sandoval pointing a firearm toward the dispensary with a man standing in the line of fire on the front porch. Sandoval complied with commands and was detained; the man, later found to be unarmed, raised his hands but refused to lie on the ground. An officer at the scene learned that a woman had been injured and was losing consciousness. The victim was reported to have a head injury; earlier accounts of a hip wound could not be substantiated in the report.

Investigators found a spent casing in leaves near the scene. Sandoval's wife told officers she had earlier asked the couple to leave the lot after they were dropped off by an unknown vehicle and said she believed the girlfriend appeared intoxicated. She said Sandoval retrieved a handgun from a vehicle and first fired a warning shot into the ground near the front door while she was holding a baseball bat. Security camera footage at the building is controlled via Sandoval's phone, she said. Officers also noted a baseball bat on the ground near the unarmed man and that a second round in Sandoval's gun failed to eject and remained in the chamber.

Under New Mexico law the charges Sandoval faces carry substantial penalties; if convicted he could face up to four and a half years in prison. Beyond criminal exposure, the incident highlights immediate business and public-safety implications for local cannabis retailers. Dispensaries operate in a tightly regulated environment where security measures, employee training and clear protocols for dealing with disruptive customers affect licensing, insurance costs and community trust. An episode involving a firearm and an injury outside a storefront can depress foot traffic, invite regulatory scrutiny and increase operational costs for neighboring businesses.

For residents, the episode is a reminder that conflicts spilling into public parking areas can quickly escalate into criminal events. Businesses with on-site cameras and clear de-escalation policies reduce risk, and reporting disturbances early helps dispatch resources to intervene before weapons are drawn.

The takeaway? Keep a safe distance, call 911 if a situation looks volatile, and local business owners should review security plans and coordinate with the Sandoval County Sheriff's Office to protect customers and staff. Our two cents? Safety investments now can prevent far costlier outcomes later.