A San Juan County criminal case has been filed after a reported knife incident at a Farmington convenience store, according to a Statement of Probable Cause filed in magistrate court.

Court records state that a man was arrested following reports that he brandished a knife toward a store employee during an encounter inside the business. The case was filed in Farmington Magistrate Court on March 5, 2026.

Police dispatched to reported aggravated assault

According to the Statement of Probable Cause, a Farmington police officer was dispatched on March 2, 2026, at approximately 7:37 p.m. to a 2700 W Main Street Speedway Gas Station regarding a reported aggravated assault.

Dispatch connected the officer by phone with a store manager who reported that a man inside the store had brandished a knife toward one of the employees. The reporting party told police that the suspect had left the building and was lying outside on the hood of a vehicle in the parking area.

The reporting party also told the officer that customers were currently inside the business at the time of the call. Police were informed that no one at the scene reported physical injuries during the incident.

Employees describe knife encounter inside store

According to the probable cause statement, an employee told officers that the suspect had entered the store earlier and later returned after initially leaving.

The employee told police that the man had asked for a phone call but appeared incoherent. The employee reported that the suspect later denied being sold alcohol and pulled out a knife during the encounter.

The employee stated that the knife had a black handle with a long silver blade resembling a kitchen knife. According to the statement, the employee said the suspect swung the knife downward at his side with the blade pointed downward.

The employee told officers he believed the suspect looked angry and had what he described as a “demonic look” on his face. The employee also reported being afraid that the knife could be used to hurt him during the encounter.

According to the document, the employee had previously asked the man to leave the store multiple times before the incident escalated.

Officers locate suspect outside store

When the responding officer arrived at the scene, the probable cause statement says the suspect was observed lying on the hood of a vehicle in the parking area.

The officer reported activating overhead emergency lights and issuing commands for the individual to raise his hands. According to the report, the individual initially complied before lowering his hands and removing items from his pockets.

Officers continued issuing commands and eventually instructed the man to interlock his fingers behind his head and walk backward toward police. The probable cause statement says the individual initially complied before lowering himself to the ground.

Police then placed the man into handcuffs and transported him to the San Juan County Adult Detention Center.

Statements made during police contact

According to the statement of probable cause, officers later spoke with the suspect inside a patrol unit after advising him of his Miranda rights.

The officer reported observing the smell of intoxicating beverages on the suspect’s breath and noted that his speech appeared slurred.

According to the document, the suspect told police that he had been denied the sale of beer and said he “did not put it to his throat.” When asked what happened next, the suspect reportedly told the officer that they would “see it on the cameras.”

The statement also says the suspect told police he pulled out the knife because the cashier had become aggressive. When asked what he intended to do with the knife, the suspect reportedly replied that the situation would be visible on store cameras.

Knife recovered as evidence

According to the probable cause statement, officers later recovered a black-handled knife with a silver blade near the area where the suspect was originally contacted.

The weapon was entered into the Farmington Police Department’s evidence system.

Charges filed

• Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon
• Criminal trespass

Case status

According to the probable cause statement, Derek Johnson was booked into the San Juan County Adult Detention Center following the arrest. Court records show the case was filed in Farmington Magistrate Court on March 5, 2026.

Source

This article is based on a Statement of Probable Cause filed in Farmington Magistrate Court in San Juan County, New Mexico.

The document was prepared by a commissioned police officer and submitted to the court as part of the criminal complaint process.

Derek Johnson is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. Charges are allegations. No determination of guilt has been made.