Santiago Garcia of Santa Fe

Santa Fe, NM - On Sunday April 22, 2018 around 10:30 p.m., a New Mexico State Police officer in Santa Fe was almost struck by a wrong-way driver on Cerrillos Road. The officer attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver fled from the officer and a pursuit ensued. 

As the pursuit approached the intersection of Cerrillos and Jaguar Roads, the officer was able to successfully perform a PIT maneuver and safely stop the vehicle. The State Police officer suspected the driver was intoxicated and completed a DWI investigation. The driver, Santiago Garcia (53) of Santa Fe, showed signs he was unable to safely operate a vehicle and was impaired. Garcia was arrested for his 11th DWI.

Neither the officer nor the suspect were injured in the pursuit. Garcia was booked into the Santa Fe County Detention Center on the following charges:

Resisting, Evading, or Obstructing an Officer
DWI 11th Offense
Careless Driving
No Driver's License
No Vehicle Insurance

Dash camera footage of this incident is available on the New Mexico State Police Twitter page @NMStatePolice. If you see a driver you suspect is DWI, dial #DWI (#394) from any cell phone.