DA mum on arrest of fugitive's brother

The district attorney won’t say if this week’s arrest of Noe Torres’ brother could bring law enforcement any closer to the fugitive.

Lucio “Chano” Torres, 34, is being held without bond at the Curry County Adult Detention Center on narcotics, assault and weapons charges.

For nearly four years, Lucio Torres’ younger brother, Noe, has been on the run avoiding arrest for the 2005 shooting death of 9-year-old Carlos Perez.

Lucio Torres is not charged in connection with the 2005 slaying.

District Attorney Matt Chandler said Friday he couldn’t comment on whether or not investigators believe Lucio Torres can lead them to his brother.

However, Chandler said he believes law enforcement is getting closer to finding Noe Torres.

This summer Chandler said the U.S. Justice Department, U.S. Marshals Service and international authorities joined in the search for the 30-year-old.

“I think the search is progressing,” he said. “We’re working very closely still to this day to track his whereabouts.”

Law enforcement believes Noe Torres could be hiding in Mexico but he has been seen in Texas and New Mexico in the four years since he fled Clovis.

Chandler said Noe and Lucio have been seen together in the time the younger Torres has been on the run.

In December 2006, Lucio Torres was arrested while visiting a friend at a hospital in Santa Rosa.

Witnesses described seeing Noe Torres with him at the hospital before law enforcement arrived, he said.

Lucio Torres has a substantial criminal history in Clovis.

Investigators with the district attorneys office, who have jurisdiction in Curry and Roosevelt counties, were asked by Clovis police to assist in capturing Lucio Torres on Monday after he was sighted in Roosevelt County, Chandler said.

He was arrested by Roosevelt County Sheriff’s deputies and district attorney’s investigators after a vehicle he was driving blew a tire.

Chandler said he is being held without bond because he failed to appear in court on another matter and is considered a flight risk, Chandler said.