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N.M. Sheriff To Deputy: Release DWI Suspect

April 25, 2012 |

A New Mexico sheriff's deputy refused his sheriff's order to release a drunk-driving suspect, causing an angry brawl that was captured by another deputy in an audio recording.

In the recording, Mora County Sheriff Thomas Garza fires Dep. Lee Allingham, who refuses to release Patrick Trujillo, who is an acquaintance of the sheriff. Trujillo had failed a field sobriety test, reports KRQE.

Sheriff Garza can be heard saying, "I can do what I want. Nobody can tell me what to do."

In the arrest report, the sheriff acknowledges he could smell alcohol on Trujillo's breath, and ordered the release to show his deputies that he was the boss.

Listen to the full audio recording here.

Tags: Sheriffs, Mora County (N.M.) Sheriff, Drunk Driving

Comments (8)

Displaying 1 - 8 of 8
Bob@Az. @ 4/25/2012 7:32 PM Good-bye sheriff, hello lawsuit!! If this so called "sheriff" is still employed it should be a warning to all of Mora County as to the level of corruption in this county.
stephen @ 4/26/2012 8:11 PM what an asshole sounds like the sheriff might need to go to the pen himself
Ric Walters @ 4/27/2012 5:22 AM What a true professional. Yahoo. Just what the world needs to see in law enforcement. Hopefully, the District Attorney will investigate this jerk.
Frank @ 4/27/2012 9:48 AM I see the Sheriff signed his retirement papers today. We do not need people like him in law enforcement. Good bye! Now you can hang with your friend and be his drinking buddy. Good work Deputy!!
AZBIGDOG @ 4/27/2012 2:04 PM Amazing how some people will refuse to obey the law and violate the law when there are politics involved. Or maybe when you owe favors to someone. Also would be interesting to know what else may have been allowed by the Sheriff in other arrests. Now might be a time for the feds to actually step in and investigate. Oh, I forgot they just don't want you to actually try to do anything that might actually prevent crimes, including illegal entry.
getum @ 4/27/2012 6:20 PM EX-Sheriif Garza is a POS! Someone needs to show Garza who is boss! Again a piece of SHIT!
Carlo @ 4/28/2012 6:52 AM This Sheriff should have taken supervisory class 101........Poor incident to show his authority over deputies......When you have a leader that is willing to release DWI suspects to flex his arms, well it should be handled swiftly by the City.......The City should give him a choice to resign or be fired........
Dennis @ 4/28/2012 11:06 PM In CA., it's called obstrution of justice. And this particular case, prosecution of the Sheriff.

Displaying 1 - 8 of 8

Bob@Az. @ 4/25/2012 7:32 PM

Good-bye sheriff, hello lawsuit!! If this so called "sheriff" is still employed it should be a warning to all of Mora County as to the level of corruption in this county.

stephen @ 4/26/2012 8:11 PM

what an asshole sounds like the sheriff might need to go to the pen himself

Ric Walters @ 4/27/2012 5:22 AM

What a true professional. Yahoo. Just what the world needs to see in law enforcement. Hopefully, the District Attorney will investigate this jerk.

Frank @ 4/27/2012 9:48 AM

I see the Sheriff signed his retirement papers today. We do not need people like him in law enforcement. Good bye! Now you can hang with your friend and be his drinking buddy. Good work Deputy!!

AZBIGDOG @ 4/27/2012 2:04 PM

Amazing how some people will refuse to obey the law and violate the law when there are politics involved. Or maybe when you owe favors to someone. Also would be interesting to know what else may have been allowed by the Sheriff in other arrests. Now might be a time for the feds to actually step in and investigate. Oh, I forgot they just don't want you to actually try to do anything that might actually prevent crimes, including illegal entry.

getum @ 4/27/2012 6:20 PM

EX-Sheriif Garza is a POS! Someone needs to show Garza who is boss! Again a piece of SHIT!

Carlo @ 4/28/2012 6:52 AM

This Sheriff should have taken supervisory class 101........Poor incident to show his authority over deputies......When you have a leader that is willing to release DWI suspects to flex his arms, well it should be handled swiftly by the City.......The City should give him a choice to resign or be fired........

Dennis @ 4/28/2012 11:06 PM

In CA., it's called obstrution of justice. And this particular case, prosecution of the Sheriff.

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