Sheriff’s Office investigates large scale cotton arson

The Chaves County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an arson southwest of Hagerman that led to the burning of 41 bales of cotton Wednesday night.

“They were still sitting in the field waiting to be picked up by a company down toward Artesia,” Chaves County Sheriff Britt Snyder said Friday morning. “We consider this a big deal because the value is high.”

The arson took place at a field near the intersection of East Ottawa and Vineyard roads.

The sheriff said no other related fires have been reported, noting that the county was once rich in cotton growth.

“(We) used to have a lot, but not anymore,” Snyder said.

Snyder asked anyone with information to call the Sheriff’s Office at 624-6500 or call Chaves County Crime Stoppers at 888-594-8477.