ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – An Albuquerque Community Safety employee, who’s been using his own life experiences to reduce gun violence in the city, found himself behind bars once again.
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Court documents show 42-year-old Ramiro Estrada was arrested Monday for driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident. It was early last year when KRQE News 13 caught up with Estrada, who was using his history of gang life in Los Angeles to work with others at risk of engaging in gun violence here in Albuquerque. “I came out here for a new beginning, and I was getting tired of the lifestyle back home,” said Estrada in January 2024.
The last time Estrada was in trouble with the law was in 2019, when he was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Through the Project Safe Neighborhoods program, Estrada received five years of probation and community service through the Violence Intervention Program (VIP), where he went on to work.
But on Monday, he was in handcuffs again. It was around 1:30 a.m. when police responded to a crash at the intersection of Unser Blvd. and I-40.
Witnesses told police, the driver of a silver Lexus got out of the car after the crash and started walking south on Unser. Later, officers saw Estrada, jogging along the sidewalk near the crash, and believed him to match the description of the driver. Estrada told police he did not know what happened, as police say they noticed signs of intoxication.
When police gave Estrada a breathalyzer test, the criminal complaint said he blew twice the legal limit (.16). He was arrested and booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center.
This comes after another former Albuquerque Community Safety employee with a similar history, Angel Garcia, resigned last year after he was arrested on a battery charge and later pleaded guilty.
Albuquerque Community Safety sent this statement:
We are aware of a recent incident involving a temporary staffing agency employee assigned to Albuquerque Community Safety. The incident occurred outside of their work hours. ACS holds all personnel to the highest standards of professionalism and accountability. We are reviewing the situation, but as this is an ongoing matter, we are unable to provide further details at this time.
