Four arrested in beating of Albuquerque auto dealership security guard

By Maggie Shepard (Contact)
Monday, September 24, 2007

Albuquerque police have arrested four men in connection with the near-death beating of Susan Schmidt, a petite 51-year-old security guard who police say interrupted the men's attempt to steal tire rims at an auto dealership.

But police say a fifth man, Marc Goodman-Nevarez, is the one they say delivered brutal kicks and punches to Schmidt's face, according to a criminal complaint. He has not been apprehended.

The four men in custody - Damian Gallegos, 21; Jeremy Dominguez, 18; Gary Dibenedetti, 21; and Joshua Santistevan, 18 - say it was the fifth man who continued to beat Schmidt and left her in a pool of her own blood, according to the complaint.

Schmidt was working as a security guard at Bob Turner Ford at 1101 Monta¤o Rd. N.E. on Sept. 4.

According to Metro Court criminal complaints detailing events of that night, the group of men conspired to steal some fancy rims off a Mustang on the dealership lot.

They arrived at the lot in two vehicles, with one group attempting to get the rims and the other group distracting the guard.

As Schmidt was distracted, Dominguez snuck up behind her and immobilized her with some sort of plastic rope giving Goodman-Nevarez time to beat her, according to the complaint.

The other men in the group fled, but Goodman-Nevarez continued to beat Schmidt, the complaint states.

Dominguez told police that "Mark struck the victim like she was his `worst enemy,' and after leaving her in a pool of blood, stole a bag of candy from her vehicle, according to a complaint.

Schmidt was found in the parking lot and taken to University of New Mexico Hospital where she remains in serious condition with severe head injuries and a number of broken bones.

Following the beating, numerous Crimestoppers tips provided police with several names. On Saturday, officers were directed to a house in the 3700 block of 11th Street Northwest where the tipster said the stolen rims were on a vehicle.

Police say they found the rims on a vehicle belonging to Gallegos. Gallegos and the other men cooperated with officers, according to the complaint, and were arrested Saturday.

All four men face charges of aggravated battery resulting in great bodily harm, kidnapping, assault while committing a violent felony, burglary, conspiracy to tamper with evidence and receiving stolen property.

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