AZTEC, N.M. — An Aztec man was arrested last week after sheriff’s deputies responded to a domestic disturbance in which a woman reported being threatened with a baseball bat during an argument inside their residence, according to court records filed in San Juan County Magistrate Court.

Thomas Hill, 39, is accused of threatening a household member with a weapon during a dispute that deputies say escalated to the point the woman feared she would be immediately struck.

Domestic disturbance reported in Aztec

According to a statement of probable cause, a deputy with the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched on January 23, 2026, to a residence along New Mexico Highway 516 in Aztec for a reported domestic violence incident.

The reporting party told deputies she had been in a romantic relationship with Hill for approximately four years and said arguments had occurred in the past, including incidents in which Hill had allegedly struck her.

On the day of the incident, the woman reported the two became involved in a verbal argument inside the residence. She told deputies she feared the argument could escalate and secluded herself in a bedroom for safety.

Alleged threat involving a baseball bat

The woman told deputies she later attempted to leave the residence to de-escalate the situation. According to the affidavit, Hill stopped her and began yelling, demanding she accompany him into town.

When she refused, deputies say Hill obtained an aluminum baseball bat with colored rope wrapped around the handle. The woman reported Hill lunged toward her in an aggressive manner while yelling that he was tired of dealing with her and threatened to strike her with the bat.

Court records state Hill advanced toward her multiple times, causing her to fear she would be immediately battered. She then contacted dispatch for help.

When deputies arrived, they observed the living room in disarray, with items scattered across the floor. The woman told deputies the items had been thrown during the argument while Hill was yelling at her.

Based on the statements provided, the condition of the residence, and the reported threat involving the baseball bat, deputies determined there was probable cause to believe a violent offense had occurred.

Hill was arrested and charged with assault against a household member with a deadly weapon, a felony offense under New Mexico law. Court records note that a baseball bat, when used or threatened as a weapon, is capable of causing death or great bodily harm.

The case was filed in Aztec Magistrate Court, where further proceedings are expected. No injuries were reported at the time of the arrest.

Presumption of Innocence

All charges are allegations only. Thomas Hill is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Related:
A Farmington case involving an alleged shooting and assault on Cliffside Drive also resulted in an arrest, according to court records.
👉 https://sanjuanpulse.com/2026/01/20/farmington-police-arrest-shiprock-man-after-alleged-shooting-and-assault-on-cliffside-drive/