A wealthy Republican official in New Mexico allegedly plowed down a cyclist before fleeing in her luxury SUV, complete with a ‘Support the Troops’ license plate. 

Kimberly Skaggs, who was serving as treasurer of the Republican Party of New Mexico, is accused of fatally striking 40-year-old Andrew Brown in Las Cruces Monday afternoon before taking off in her black Cadillac Escalade. 

A license plate reader allegedly caught her SUV speeding away from the area just moments after the crash that killed Brown, according to a criminal complaint obtained by The Daily Mail.

Skaggs, 54, was arrested Wednesday on two felony counts of knowingly leaving the scene of a fatal accident and tampering with evidence. 

Republican Party of New Mexico Executive Director Leticia Muñoz revealed the following day that Skaggs was ‘no longer affiliated’ with the organization, according to Santa Fe New Mexican.

‘Kimberly Skaggs is no longer affiliated with the Republican Party of New Mexico,’ the director said. ‘We will not be commenting any further on this matter.’

Meanwhile, Brock Benjamin, an attorney representing the former GOP official, said she maintained her innocence.

‘Her position is that she’s innocent,’ Benjamin told the outlet, adding that she turned herself in to authorities after she ‘found out there was a warrant for her arrest.’

Kimberly Skaggs, who was serving as treasurer of the Republican Party of New Mexico, allegedly plowed down a cyclist before fleeing in her luxury SUV Monday afternoon

Skaggs allegedly fatally struck a 40-year-old man in Las Cruces before taking off in her black Cadillac Escalade, complete with a ‘Support the Troops’ license plate

The victim, 40-year-old Andrew Brown, was severely injured and pronounced dead at the scene shortly after

Skaggs’ arrest came two days after deputies with the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a hit-and-run on North Fairacres Road at 2.46pm Monday.

There, authorities found a man, who identified himself as Brown, had been struck while riding his bicycle across the roadway. He was severely injured and pronounced dead at the scene shortly after. 

A witness told investigators she saw a woman walking around the scene, who she described as a white female with shoulder-length dark blonde hair and an average build.

She said the woman then got back into her vehicle and fled northbound. She also provided authorities with photographs of both the driver and the crash scene, according to the arrest affidavit. 

The photos revealed a newer model black Cadillac Escalade with a New Mexico license plate bearing the slogan ‘Support the Troops.’

Investigators found ‘around 208 feet of skid marks’ at the scene, along with a bicycle broken into pieces and scattered across the road, according to the complaint.

Court documents also stated that debris from the suspect’s SUV was left behind, including two ‘small black pieces with grill marks and GM imprinted on the back of them,’ indicating the possible make and model of the car in question. 

An officer provided a Flock photo – an automatic license plate reader image – that matched the description of the Cadillac driving on nearby Picacho Avenue close to the time of the fatal crash. 

Investigators found ‘around 208 feet of skid marks’ at the scene, along with a bicycle broken into pieces and scattered across the road

Investigators tracked down the Escalade with GPS tracking and found it at what was confirmed to be one of Skaggs’ properties

Authorities observed ‘blood splatter’ near one of Skaggs’ front tires and bumper markings consistent with hitting Brown’s bicycle

Authorities found Skaggs’ Cadillac behind the residence ‘under a red metal carport’

The license plate identified the driver as Skaggs, while previous records showed that in September 2025, the Las Cruces Police Department (LCPD) issued her a citation for ‘racing on streets-exhibition driving.’ 

Surveillance footage from a nearby business also revealed what appeared to be the same vehicle turning north onto Burke Road ‘at a high rate of speed,’ away from the scene, according to the complaint. 

Investigators tracked down the Escalade with GPS tracking, discovering it at a property on the 5000 block of Northwind Road – a residence authorities said was confirmed to be owned by Skaggs. 

At around 6.40pm the following evening, officers executed a search warrant on the property and found her Cadillac hidden behind the residence ‘under a red metal carport.’

Damage was evident to the front of the SUV, with authorities observing ‘blood splatter’ near one of the front tires and bumper markings consistent with hitting a bicycle, including with parts missing.

‘Two missing pieces from the lower front bumper area were missing consistent with pieces left at the scene of the crash,’ the court documents revealed.

Skaggs was taken into custody Wednesday at the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office and booked into jail just before 4pm, according to an online inmate database.

Prosecutors requested that she be held in jail until her trial. In a motion seeking pretrial detention, they wrote that they are planning to present the case to a grand jury, Santa Fe New Mexican reported.

Skaggs, 54, was arrested Wednesday on two felony counts of knowingly leaving the scene of a fatal accident and tampering with evidence

Authorities said a license plate identified the driver as Skaggs (pictured: Lieutenant Eric Flores)

Skaggs has been a Republican candidate in several state legislative races, running multiple competitive but unsuccessful campaigns

The former treasurer remains in jail without bond.

According to court records, Skaggs has been cited for speeding on several occasions in recent years, including a December citation accusing her of driving more than 30 mph over the speed limit. 

However, that case along with four others were dismissed due to a lack of prosecution. 

Skaggs has long been in the political sphere, including holding the position as a former chair of the Doña Ana County Republican Party.

While serving as treasurer, she was closely aligned with the administration of Amy Barela, frequently appearing at national events and holding influential roles throughout Barela’s tenure.

Her arrest comes as the New Mexico Republican Party is in the process of selecting a new chair after Barela was removed in May.

In recent years, Skaggs has also been a Republican candidate in several state legislative races, running multiple competitive but unsuccessful campaigns.

She ran for State Representative in District 36 in 2022 and 2024, losing both times to Democrat Nathan P Small.