State tries to keep man behind bars but he doesn't stay there long

Target 7 obtained court records before the state sealed them. They show what the New Mexico Department of Health is doing to try and keep this virus from spreading. "There's a lot of power within the state department of health, to basically seize people who have tested positive and lock them down so they don't infect anybody else," said KOAT legal expert John Day. Court records show a 50-year-old man checked into the University of New Mexico Hospital last week. The records show he tested positive for the virus and had pneumonia. On April 20, the man was taken from UNMH to the Canyon Rehabilitation Center. Records show the man checked himself out of the facility against the advice of staff, and threatened staff with a huge rock. The state filed court records saying the man needs to be in isolation for the safety of the public. Records at the Metropolitan Detention Center show he was put in the infirmary there, but was then released from jail after spending one day there.

Target 7 obtained court records before the state sealed them. They show what the New Mexico Department of Health is doing to try and keep this virus from spreading.



"There's a lot of power within the state department of health, to basically seize people who have tested positive and lock them down so they don't infect anybody else," said KOAT legal expert John Day.


Court records show a 50-year-old man checked into the University of New Mexico Hospital last week. The records show he tested positive for the virus and had pneumonia.

On April 20, the man was taken from UNMH to the Canyon Rehabilitation Center.

Records show the man checked himself out of the facility against the advice of staff, and threatened staff with a huge rock.

The state filed court records saying the man needs to be in isolation for the safety of the public.

Records at the Metropolitan Detention Center show he was put in the infirmary there, but was then released from jail after spending one day there.