CUSTER COUNTY — The man suspected of shooting and killing three Custer County residents and seriously injuring one other was arrested today shortly before 2:48 p.m. near Albuquerque, N.M.

Custer County Sheriff Rich Smith announced the arrest of Hanme Clark, 45, of Westcliffe, via a press release and a press conference held outside the Custer County Sheriff’s Office in Westcliffe at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday.

“I am super-thrilled to say that at 2:48 p.m. I received a call from Kirk Taylor, the U.S. Marshall from Colorado, (saying that) his team and the New Mexico State Police captured our suspect.”

Clark is suspected of shooting and killing Rob Geers, Beth Wade Geers and James Daulton on the Geers’ property located at 173 Rocky Ridge Road in Westcliffe on Monday. A fourth shooting victim, Patty Dalton, survived has been transported to Colorado Springs to receive care for her injuries.

Authorities said that the incident stemmed from a “land dispute,” and the Geer and Daulton properties border Clark’s.

Clark was arrested with a woman that is assumed to be his wife or girlfriend. Smith said he was not sure if the woman had been formally arrested.

“We have some questions for her,” Smith said.

The Sheriff said that the arrest was a “high-risk felony” stop, but that he believes Clark surrendered peacefully.

The Custer County Sheriff’s Office, Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Marshalls sought Clark through Chaffee County and later into New Mexico.

Clark was apprehended in the same white, Ram 1500 pickup that officials said he was traveling in after the incident on Monday.

Smith, who was emotional at a press conference held earlier in the day, said that he wanted to turn the focus of the incident from the suspect to the victims.

“We just wanted to get him in custody and then make it about healing for our community and the families,” Smith said. “I hope (the arrest) brings relief to the (Rocky Ridge) neighborhood and more importantly closure to the families of the victims and the friends.”

Clark is facing three counts of first-degree murder.

Smith said he intends to charge him with “all crimes he’s accused of.”

Investigation continues

The investigation of the Geers’ property continued into the afternoon. A gray Chevy Silverado was towed from the site around 2 p.m. Tuesday. The windshield was shattered and there was blood spattered on the passenger side of the truck. Law enforcement also hauled two large paper bags from the property.

Law enforcement and emergency services also were present at a resident located at 165 Rocky Ridge Road. The house is listed as being owned by Herbal gardens Wellness, NPO.

Smith said that Clark had ties to the ownership of Herbal Gardens.

The heavily-wooded, secluded area of Rocky Road Ridge is sparsely populated.

A neighbor who lives nearly a mile from the Geers’ residence said he was out of town when the shooting took place. When Harry Dollarhide returned home, he was shocked to hear about the incident. Dollarhide, who moved to the neighborhood from the Parker-Castle Rock area two years ago, said most of his neighbors live elsewhere in the winter.

He said all of his neighbors and he get along well, and that everyone is “real cool,” and called the incident “sad.”

“It’s a shame,” Dollarhide said. “It’s a permanent solution to a temporary problem.”

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