A fired New Mexico State Police officer who made national headlines after he shot at a minivan full of children near Taos has a new job.
Taos Sheriff Jerry Hogrefe announced this week that Elias Montoya was one of two new deputies hired out of a pool of 17.
The 12-year veteran was fired in December 2013 after an internal investigation into his use of force during an October shooting. Video footage showed Montoya firing into a van with five children inside during a chaotic traffic stop.
The driver of the minivan, Oriana Farrell, of Memphis, Tenn., faced a number of charges, including aggravated fleeing.
Montoya was later offered his job back at New Mexico State Police but chose to resign instead.
Hogrefe says Montoya's record remains clean and he deserved another chance.
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