Entitled Drunk Man Threatens Officers Life After Officer Refuses To Let Him Go

On Monday November 6, 2023, at approximately 0328 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 Valencia, State of New Mexico. At this time, I was parked stationary in the median of Interstate 25 near milepost 206, facing north, monitoring traffic in this area. I observed a southbound vehicle that appeared to be traveling faster than the posted speed limit of 75 mph. I engaged my radars front antenna which displayed approximately 96 mph. I caught up and pulled behind this vehicle a black Chevrolet truck bearing NM registration AMHK72, activated my emergency equipment to conduct a traffic stop. The driver was slow to bring this vehicle to a complete stop (40 seconds). I exited my patrol car and contacted the male driver and sole occupant, later identified as Anthony Aragon (Defendant) and asked him to provide me his Driver’s License, registration, and insurance. Defendant provided me his NM OLN and current registration. While speaking with Defendant, I smelled the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from Defendant and/or this vehicle, had blood shot watery eyes and spoke with a slur. Defendant thought he was catching up to me as I was traveling even though I was stationary in the median. I had Defendant exit this vehicle where I explained the reason for this traffic stop. Defendants balance appeared impaired as he walked and stood straight up. While speaking with Defendant I continued to smell the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage from his breath as he spoke and his eyes were bloodshot and watery. I asked Defendant how much he had been drinking and he admitted to consuming one alcoholic beverage 45 minutes prior to this traffic stop at a friend’s house in Los Lunas. Defendant denied being north of Los Lunas. Based on my observations, I had Defendant submit to a series of Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST's). Due to Defendant stating he was nervous and not having good balance I administered 2 alternative tests: H to R and 58 to 43. 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 0346 hours Defendant was arrested for driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, placed in steel handcuffs that were fitted and locked for his safety. Defendant was read the New Mexico Implied Consent Advisory and refused to be tested. I checked the interior of his mouth which was clear of any foreign matter. He was then transported to the Los Lunas Police Department in Los Lunas and after a 20-minute deprivation period (0346-0446 hours), 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. During the inventory I located several open alcoholic beverage containers. Defendant was transported and released to the Valencia County Detention Center without incident.

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