Former county commissioner arrested, charged for shoplifting

LOS LUNAS — Just weeks after losing the June Republican primary for the District 4 Valencia County Commission seat, a former county commissioner has been arrested for shoplifting.

According to the criminal complaint, Los Lunas Police Department patrol officer Marco Salcido was dispatched to Walmart at about 4:30 p.m., Sunday, June 23.

An asset protection employee at the store had detained David Hyder, 47, the former District 3 commissioner.

The employee said Hyder was using the Walmart mobile app to shop, and “only had 16 items on his electric receipt. It should be noted more than 16 items were recovered from the basket David tried to leave with, passing all points of sale,” according to Salcido’s report.

He noted the employee said the items that weren’t paid for were worth $202.50. Due to the dollar amount of the items allegedly shoplifted, Hyder is charged with a petty misdemeanor. The compliant doesn’t indicate what the items Hyder is accused of taking.

Hyder was arrested at the store and booked into the Valencia County Detention Center. While at VCDC, he was informed the items he had paid for at Walmart had been reimbursed to the debit/credit card used, the complaint reads.

Online court records indicate the former commissioner was released from custody on his own recognizance on Monday, June 24. Hyder is scheduled to make his first appearance before Los Lunas Magistrate Miles Tafoya at 9 a.m., Tuesday, July 23.

The News-Bulletin attempted to contact Hyder by phone, but the telephone number he provided to the paper when he filed for candidacy seems to no longer be working. Other attempts to contact him were made via text and email, but he did not respond before deadline.