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A prominent politician and Republican primary candidate for the Sandoval County Commission was ejected from a hotel and hot spring in Truth or Consequences on May 1 over allegations of excessive drinking and threatening to shoot an employee.

Dan Stoddard of Rio Rancho, 67, is a former city councilor who has also served on the county鈥檚 planning and zoning commission as well as its ethics committee.

Before moving to Rio Rancho 15 years ago, he served on the Clovis City Commission and as a Curry County commissioner. He is facing fellow Republican Edwin 鈥淧aul鈥� Linson in the June 2 primary.

According to a Truth or Consequences Police Department report, Stoddard and his wife were staying at Blackstone Hotsprings when a confrontation occurred between Stoddard and staff. Police and sheriff鈥檚 deputies responded a few minutes after 11 a.m., including police Chief Luis Tavizon.

Tavizon wrote in his report that the Stoddards 鈥渨ere heavily intoxicated,鈥� enough that police temporarily confiscated Stoddard鈥檚 firearm and transported the couple to another hotel rather than allow them to drive.

The police interviewed witnesses, including general manager Ryan McLeod, who later provided a written account included in the police report. McLeod told police Stoddard quickly became irate when McLeod informed him it was time for the couple to check out of the room. Stoddard then complained that the room鈥檚 bath was cold, McLeod stated.

After he ran the water himself to check the temperature, McLeod said Stoddard 鈥渂ecame very aggressive,鈥� grabbing him by the arm and shouting. As McLeod moved to leave the room, he said Stoddard retrieved a pistol and held it at his side but did not point it at him.

鈥淗e told me he would shoot me in the head,鈥� McLeod wrote.

As McLeod proceeded to call 911, he wrote that Stoddard emerged from the room 鈥� without his gun 鈥� 鈥渋n his underwear yelling to start a confrontation, continuing to threaten me and my co-workers.鈥�

Stoddard was not arrested or charged, though he was detained by a sheriff鈥檚 deputy and temporarily placed in handcuffs, police said.

McLeod declined to press charges, asking police only to remove the couple from the property.

The police issued a trespass warning, and provided an escort later in the day so Stoddard could retrieve his vehicle and reclaim his firearm, according to the report. Tavizon described the weapon as 鈥渁 short barreled, five shot revolver, possibly a Ruger.鈥�

Police referred the incident to District Attorney Clint Wellborn鈥檚 office, which did not pursue criminal charges.

Stoddard denied making any threats when reached by the Journal on Thursday and suggested the manager was 鈥渄isgruntled鈥� over Stoddard鈥檚 complaints about his hot tub. He said McLeod 鈥渨as rude to my wife and I 鈥� and he called the police. That was it. There was no charges pressed, nothing.鈥�

He stated that his gun had been stored and that he produced it when Tavizon asked about it. Stoddard denied threatening to shoot anyone.

鈥淢y wife and I were down there on a break. And, yes, did we have a bottle of champagne, and did we want to enjoy the hot springs? That鈥檚 why we went there,鈥� Stoddard said.

Both men indicated they wanted to put the incident behind them. 

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 proceed with charges on him because I鈥檓 getting old and I鈥檓 going to retire and I just don鈥檛 want to go down that rabbit hole,鈥� McLeod told the Journal. 鈥淚 just want to let it go. He鈥檚 86鈥檇 from the property, and that鈥檚 it.鈥�

Stoddard said he had been a guest at the lodge several times previously and 鈥渘ever had a problem鈥� before May 1.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a nothing burger, 鈥� he said, 鈥渙r the DA would have charged me, wouldn鈥檛 he?鈥�

Wellborn鈥檚 office did not respond to a query from the Journal.

Algernon 顿鈥橝尘尘补蝉蝉补 is the Journal鈥檚 southern New Mexico correspondent. He can be reached at adammassa@abqjournal.com.