SANTA FE, NM – Police in Santa Fe arrested the spokesman and chief counsel for the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office on a drunk driving charge, the Santa Fe New Mexican reports.
The arrest of Matt Baca followed an incident Saturday night in which police said he crashed into a parked car on Garcia Street. Baca was found sitting in the driver’s seat of his Honda sedan shortly after 11 p.m.
According to a criminal complaint, the officer who encountered Baca noticed indications of alcohol and marijuana use. The officer said it appeared Baca was driving in the wrong lane when he crashed into the vehicle that was legally parked.
Baca denied drinking alcohol or smoking marijuana but refused to take a breath-alcohol test and performed poorly on field sobriety tests, the officer said. He was arrested on several charges, including aggravated DWI and careless driving.
Baca, who was not seriously hurt in the crash, pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released from the Santa Fe County jail. He was placed on administrative leave from his position with Attorney General Hector Balderas’ office and was scheduled for a pre-trial hearing Nov. 11.
Have you been hurt? Then call Bert! Impaired drivers present a hazard to other drivers, pedestrians, and even people who are not on the road at all. The New Mexico car accident lawyers of Parnall Law are here to help you seek justice and compensation if you were injured in an accident caused by a reckless drunk driver. To schedule a free consultation where we can discuss your legal options, submit our online contact form or call us at (505) 268-6500.
