Even though conditions are dry, there is a not a burn ban in the East Mountains in 2012.

That means people are free to have campfires and barbeques, but the U.S. Forest Service is warning everyone that it could become a dangerous wildfire in seconds-flat.

Camping opportunities attract people far beyond our fair city.

"We do have some concerns because we do get a lot of visitors that don't know the rules, (regulations) and forest manners if you want to call it that way," said Sandia Ranger District spokesperson Karen Takai.

Takai says with no burn-ban so far this season the forest service is facing a serious problem.

"The public doesn't know how to put out campfires anymore. 50 percent of our fires in the Sandias are abandoned campfires," said Takai.

It's been a while since campfires have been allowed here especially because of last year's terrible fire season.

An Albuquerque police officer has been arrested on a domestic violence charge.

Jonathan Romero, 41, was arrested over the weekend on a misdemeanor charge of battery on a household member.

According to a criminal complaint, Romero was in an argument with his wife about their divorce at their Tijeras home. She later went to bed.

That's when the report states that Romero went into the bedroom and tried to forcefully take her wedding ring off her finger.

Romero has been released from jail.

Police say Romero is a 14-year veteran on the force.

KOB Eyewitness News 4 is in the courtroom Friday morning as the sentencing phase for deputy-killer Michael Astorga finally gets underway in Santa Fe.

Astorga was convicted of killing Bernalillo County Sheriff Deputy James McGrane during a traffic stop in the East Mountains in 2006.

In this sentencing phase, the jury will be asked to decide whether Astorga gets life in prison or the death penalty.

More than 3,000 people filled out surveys for this phase of the trial.

That’s by far the largest jury pool ever in New Mexico.

Stay with us throughout the day as we cover the trial.