VIDEO: APD officer charged with driving drunk in patrol vehicle

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – On a Sunday in early June, New Mexico State Police Sergeant Toby Lafave was about to make an unusual arrest after clocking a speeding SUV on I-25.

Lafave: “I’m watching an APD unit, doing like over 100, keeps driving off the road.”

Lafave found APD Officer Jordan Hernandez in full uniform behind the wheel. Officer Hernandez told the sergeant that he had only a few minutes to get to work for his midnight shift but Sgt. Lefave said not so fast.

Lafave: “You’re not staying in your lane.”
Hernandez: “I’m sorry, boss, I have a low tire.”

On the side of Bobby Foster Road, Hernandez tried to explain his driving.

Lafave: “I don’t know why you keep going off the road. That’s why I stopped you.”
Hernandez: “Honestly, can I show you why?”
Lafave: “You can tell me why.”
Hernandez: “It’s because I don’t have my other key, so my other key f**** me up because I don’t have my other key in the ignition, and so it’s pulling on my belt, and that’s why. Like, I can show you sir?”
Lafave: “So that’s why you can’t stay in one lane?
Hernandez: No, no, no.
Lafave: Okay, I asked you, why can’t you stay in one lane?
Hernandez: Because I’m trying to log onto all my stuff and everything like that.

But the sergeant had a different explanation for what had happened.

Lafave: “Mr. Hernandez, when did you last drink alcohol?”
Hernandez: “Uh, yesterday.”
Lafave: “Okay, let me check your eyes real quick.”

Lafave, who is well known in the state for his career putting drunk drivers behind bars, learned Hernandez graduated from the academy three years prior. He told Hernandez that he could smell the booze on his breath and started field sobriety tests eventually arresting Hernandez.

APD put Hernandez on administrative leave after his arrest. He is charged with aggravated DWI, speeding, and failure to maintain his lane.