Woman shoots herself during arrest attempt near Pleasant View

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A Pleasant View woman was critically injured Tuesday after she shot herself while being sought by Montezuma County Sheriff deputies attempting to serve an arrest warrant.

Nicole M. Lindsay, 29, survived the gunshot wound, said Montezuma County Sheriff Steve Nowlin Wednesday. She was transported to Southwest Memorial Hospital then taken by helicopter to a hospital in Albuquerque, and underwent emergency surgery.

Nowlin said an arrest warrant had been issued for Lindsay for suspicion of an alleged domestic violence assault July 8 at a residence in Pleasant View.

Around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, deputies attempted to contact her at the Cox Conoco on U.S. Highway 491, and she fled the scene, driving north in a blue Ford Explorer.

She stopped and exited the vehicle holding a handgun, then pointed it at her head, Nowlin said.

“Officers backed off and kept their distance because she was armed,” he said.

Lindsay then turned west onto County Road CC, hit a telephone pole, drove into a ditch and blew the right rear tire before coming to a stop near the intersection of Road 8.

When officers arrived, she exited the vehicle and shot herself in the chest in a suspected suicide attempt, Nowlin said.

“Officers pleaded with her to drop the gun,” Nowlin said.

Sheriff deputies administered emergency medical aid and stopped the bleeding, he said.

EMT’s from the Pleasant View Volunteer Fire Department arrived and took over emergency care. She was transported to Southwest Memorial Hospital, then taken by helicopter to a hospital in Albuquerque.

Nowlin said Lindsay went through surgery and is expected to survive. The case remains under investigation.