Post by WaTcHeR on May 23, 2006 9:08:21 GMT -5
05/22/2006 - A Pueblo police officer was arrested while on duty early Sunday on allegations of drinking and driving and domestic violence, officials said.
Officer Garrett Scott Ortiz, 36, was arrested after other officers were called to his home on a domestic-violence complaint and found him in uniform next to his patrol car with the smell of alcohol on his breath, according to Sgt. Richard Van Zandt in a court document supporting the arrest.
Ortiz's blood-alcohol content later was measured at 0.094 percent, which exceeds the level for driving under the influence of alcohol, Van Zandt said in the affidavit.
The woman who lives with Ortiz, Carmen Romero, told Van Zandt that she and Ortiz had been out drinking Saturday evening, ending at a bar called Grandpappy's. She related that Ortiz had four shots of alcohol and several beers during that time.
When they got home about 8:55 p.m., Romero reported, Ortiz had three more beers before he was called and asked if he wanted to earn overtime by working the graveyard shift.
"Carmen stated that she tried to tell Ortiz that he was too intoxicated to come to work and Ortiz told her, 'I'm
going. I need the money,"' the affidavit said.
An argument ensued, and Ortiz left for work. He returned later in the patrol car and was seen kneeling next to Romero's 2005 Chevrolet Malibu, Romero told Van Zandt. She discovered that a tire on the Malibu was flat, and a 3-inch slit was found in the sidewall of the tire, Van Zandt said.
A folding knife that had a black smudge on the blade consistent with the rubber material in tires was found in the patrol car Ortiz was using at the time, Van Zandt said.
Officer Garrett Scott Ortiz, 36, was arrested after other officers were called to his home on a domestic-violence complaint and found him in uniform next to his patrol car with the smell of alcohol on his breath, according to Sgt. Richard Van Zandt in a court document supporting the arrest.
Ortiz's blood-alcohol content later was measured at 0.094 percent, which exceeds the level for driving under the influence of alcohol, Van Zandt said in the affidavit.
The woman who lives with Ortiz, Carmen Romero, told Van Zandt that she and Ortiz had been out drinking Saturday evening, ending at a bar called Grandpappy's. She related that Ortiz had four shots of alcohol and several beers during that time.
When they got home about 8:55 p.m., Romero reported, Ortiz had three more beers before he was called and asked if he wanted to earn overtime by working the graveyard shift.
"Carmen stated that she tried to tell Ortiz that he was too intoxicated to come to work and Ortiz told her, 'I'm
going. I need the money,"' the affidavit said.
An argument ensued, and Ortiz left for work. He returned later in the patrol car and was seen kneeling next to Romero's 2005 Chevrolet Malibu, Romero told Van Zandt. She discovered that a tire on the Malibu was flat, and a 3-inch slit was found in the sidewall of the tire, Van Zandt said.
A folding knife that had a black smudge on the blade consistent with the rubber material in tires was found in the patrol car Ortiz was using at the time, Van Zandt said.