Albuquerque Officer Arrested For DWI While on His Way To Work at 112 MPH!

Sgt Lafave’s report: On Sunday June 9, 2024, at approximately 2349 hours, I, Sergeant Lafave, was on duty in full uniform displaying my badge of office, and in a marked NMSP patrol vehicle within the County of Bernalillo, State of New Mexico. At this time, I was traveling south on Interstate 25 near milepost 212, when I observed a northbound vehicle that appeared to be traveling faster than the posted speed limit of 75 mph. This vehicle was quickly closing distance on other northbound vehicles. I engaged my radars front antenna which displayed 112 mph. I turned my patrol vehicle around to catch up with this vehicle. In the distance I could see the vehicle failing to maintain its lane of traffic as it approached Broadway/NM 47 bridge. I was traveling in excess of 120 mph and was slowly closing distance. I caught up with this vehicle and again observed it failing to maintain its lane of traffic in the same manner on four more occasions. I initially thought this patrol unit may have been recently stolen due to its speed and lack of having any emergency equipment activated; and/or the driver may be falling asleep based on being unable to maintain their lane of traffic. I pulled behind this vehicle (a white Ford Explorer patrol unit), and activated my emergency equipment to conduct a traffic stop. The driver flashed the vehicle’s emergency lights as I continued with this traffic stop. I exited my patrol car making a passenger side approach and contacted the male driver and sole occupant, later identified as Jordan Hernanadez (Defendant). I asked Defendant the reason for his speed and was told he was heading into work. While speaking with Defendant, I smelled the moderate odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from Defendant and/or this vehicle, observed his eyes were watery eyes and spoke with a slight slur on a few words. I had Defendant exit this vehicle where I further explained the reason for this traffic stop. Defendant blamed logging into his computer, having a low tire and his keys as the reasons for his driving behavior. I did not observe his computer to be turned on. While speaking with Defendant I continued to smell the moderate odor of an alcoholic beverage from his breath as he spoke. I asked Defendant how much he had been drinking and he denied recently consuming any alcoholic beverage prior to this traffic stop, last consuming alcoholic beverage(s) at 12 the day before (either 24 or 36 hours earlier). Defendant could not explain the odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his breath. Based on my observations, I had Defendant submit to a series of Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST's). 2 alternative tests given due to downward slope of roadway and wind conditions. Upon completion of all SFST’s and based on my training and experience, I observed Defendant displayed signs of impairment and determined Defendant was unable to continue to operate a motor vehicle safely. At 0006 hours Defendant was arrested for driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor. Defendant was read the New Mexico Implied Consent Advisory and refused to be tested. Defendant was read the consequences for refusing with the same result. I checked the interior of his mouth which was clear of any foreign matter. He was then transported to the NMSP office in Albuquerque and after a 20-minute deprivation period, Defendant failed to provide any valid breath samples into the IR8000 instrument resulting in the instrument to display, “No Sample Introduced.” A check of Defendant's driving history in NCIC returned valid with no prior DWI convictions making this a first offense. This vehicle and department property were released to Sgt. Foulk who was called to scene. Sgt. Foulk also smell the odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from the patrol unit while being shown where the duty weapon was taser were located. When Sgt. Foulk spoke with Defendant, he also noticed Defendant looked inebriated since he is familiar with how Defendant normally looks. Though minimal clues were observed on the WAT and OLS test, Defendant was arrested based on the whole totality of this incident to include poor driving, my observations during the personal contact phase and his performance during all tests given. Defendant has been a certified law enforcement officer for approximately 3 years. Defendant was transported and released to the Metropolitan Detention Center without incident.