Tranquelino Benito Romero Faces Trial for December Chase as Federal School Assault Lawsuits Advance

Former Taos student Tranquelino Romero faces trial for a 2025 police chase as federal lawsuits against the school district for negligence move toward a jury.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 29, 2026, 5:38 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Santa Fe New Mexican

The December Pursuit and Resulting Criminal Allegations

Tranquelino Benito Romero, a 24 year old former student, was apprehended in late December 2025 following a violent encounter with Taos County sheriff's deputies. Authorities allege that Romero crashed a truck into a gas meter before attempting to evade law enforcement through a residential neighborhood. According to court documentation, the chase ended when Romero drove through a neighbor's gate and became immobilized, leading deputies to arrest him at gunpoint. A subsequent search of the vehicle reportedly uncovered firearms and a quantity of cocaine, resulting in a suite of charges including aggravated fleeing, driving under the influence, and negligent use of a deadly weapon.

Federal Litigation Targets Institutional Oversight Failures

While Romero remains under legal scrutiny for the recent pursuit, his history is central to two federal civil rights lawsuits filed against Taos Municipal Schools. These legal actions, initiated in 2020 and 2022, claim the district failed to protect female students from Romero's predatory behavior during 2017 and 2018. The lawsuits contend that school officials tolerated a culture of inappropriate conduct and allowed Romero to roam the campus freely despite receiving numerous disciplinary referrals for sexual harassment. Legal representatives for the plaintiffs, including attorneys Carey Bhalla and Clay Wilwol, emphasize that the litigation seeks to hold the administration accountable for systemic safety failures.

Administrative Knowledge and Disciplinary History Under Review

Amended complaints in the federal cases suggest that district officials possessed actual notice of Romero's behavior. Documents allege that during the early months of the 2017 to 2018 academic year, Romero accumulated seven disciplinary referrals linked to previous harassment allegations. The lawsuits name several former administrators, including a former superintendent and high school principal, as defendants. According to the complaints, these individuals were present in meetings where Romero's conduct was discussed but failed to implement necessary corrective measures to ensure the safety of the student body.