Michael Hodock/Sandoval Signpost
In the past two weeks, three Albuquerque Fire Rescue employees — one firefighter and two drivers — have been arrested and charged with driving under the influence.
In a press release, AFR Fire Chief Emily Jaramillo said, “Albuquerque Fire Rescue takes off-duty incidents seriously. These actions are not representative of the mission of AFR and do not align with the standards and expectations the department holds for the members of Albuquerque Fire Rescue. The department is conducting an internal investigation and are fully cooperating with law enforcement.”
Last Friday, AFR Firefighter Mateo Keyohara was charged with aggravated DWI. According to a criminal complaint, around 11:45 p.m. on March 22, an Albuquerque police officer saw a gray Toyota Tacoma “driving at an extremely high rate of speed” on Rio Grande Boulevard and Indian School Road in Albuquerque. The officer says Keyohara hit a curb trying to make a right turn, prompting him to make a traffic stop for speeding and failing to maintain traffic lanes. When pulling into a gas station, Keyohara allegedly drove up the curb several times and almost hit other vehicles before parking.
Keyohara failed field sobriety tests, according to the complaint, and was arrested for driving under the influence. He was given a breathalyzer test and blew at or above double the legal limit, according to the complaint.
On March 17, around 9:44 p.m., AFR Driver Rane Wade Arlang Haddi was accused of making an improper turn onto the train tracks to avoid a sobriety checkpoint around Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. and Commercial Street in Downtown Albuquerque. According to the incident report, Haddi failed field sobriety tests and was charged with an aggravated DWI for refusing to take a breathalyzer test.
Earlier this month on March 13, the Rio Rancho Police Department officers were dispatched to Cleveland High School in Rio Rancho for a welfare check. AFR Driver Angelo Abeyta allegedly left the scene in a gray Toyota Tundra and showed signs of impairment when stopped by RRPD Officers shortly afterward. Abeyta failed field sobriety tests and was transported to the RRPD for chemical testing. Two breath samples were taken and both samples showed a B.A.C. over 0.16 (twice the legal limit), according to a criminal complaint. Abeyta was booked at Sandoval County Detention Center for Aggravated DUI.
Keyohara, Hanni, and Abeyta have been placed on administrative leave pending a full investigation.
The three cases come on the heels of DWI arrests of officers from other agencies.
Last month, The Signpost reported that on February 5, Albuquerque Police Officer Isaiah Ortiz y Pino was arrested by RRPD and booked on misdemeanor charges of battery on a household member. Ortiz y Pino is accused of getting into a physical argument with his girlfriend that involved throwing beer at the kitchen wall.
On February 14, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Deputy Daniel Vasquez-Moreno was arrested by RRPD and charged with one count of aggravated battery of a household member, and driving while intoxicated.