Dr. Melissa Ivers, associate chief medical officer for the University of New Mexico Health System, was arrested Dec. 13, 2023, after she shoplifted from a Target in Albuquerque, New Mexico, cops say. She allegedly stole from the store on three other occasions. (Body cam: Albuquerque; Inset: University of New Mexico Health System)
An associate chief medical officer for the University of New Mexico Health System making nearly $300,000 a year was arrested after she shoplifted multiple times from Target, according to police.
Court records show Dr. Melissa Ivers faced a charge of shoplifting over $500 but less than $2,500 after her Dec. 13 arrest at a Target store in Albuquerque. NBC affiliate KOB, citing an arrest affidavit, reported Ivers stole from the store on four separate occasions in November and December.
On Nov. 11, an employee reportedly alleged Ivers got away with nearly $600 in merchandise. About two weeks later she reportedly stole about $130 in items, while on Dec. 6 she allegedly took a cart of merchandise worth $173.
The affidavit reportedly said she was finally caught in the act on Dec. 13 of stealing over $200 in merchandise. She was walking out of Target when Albuquerque police officers confronted her at the exit.
“Ma’am let’s go inside. We need to talk to you. You’re being detained for shoplifting,” an Albuquerque police officer said in the body worn camera footage obtained by Law&Crime shows.
Another officer tells Ivers to take her hands out of her pockets as she walks inside.
“Sorry, sorry,” she responded.
Ivers entered into a pre-prosecution diversion program to avoid jail time since it was her first arrest, the Office of the Second Judicial District Attorney said in a statement to KOB. The program works similar to probation and is supervised by prosecutors.
“Participants must check in with their PPD officer regularly, they are drug tested, and must attend any counseling deemed necessary, get a job or go to school, and pay restitution if there is any needed,” the statement said. “If they successfully complete the charges their case is dismissed. If they do not successfully complete then we prosecute charges as normal.”
According to her profile page on the UNM Health website, Ivers graduated from the University of Pennsylvania dental school and came to UNM in 2009 to complete her residency. She joined the UNM faculty after graduating and later became the residency program’s director. She has three sons.
The university’s salary database says she makes $286,860 per year.
“UNM’s leadership is aware of the situation with Dr. Melissa Ivers,” Chris Ramirez, communications director for UNM Health and Health Sciences, said in a statement to Law&Crime. “She has been placed on administrative leave while we follow the appropriate procedures and processes.”
Ivers’ attorney could not immediately be reached for comment.
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