City worker on the clock at court

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Court security confirms a city worker who caused a lot of commotion at a check-in over a knife was also on the clock.

Michael Griego, 34, was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct after Bernalillo County Deputies said he got into a heated squabble with district court security Monday morning.

Captain Greg Rees said Griego was going to court for a felony charge. KRQE News 13 learned it was a burglary charge back in July.

Rees said Griego was stopped at check in because of what he’s accused of bringing in.

“He had a Leatherman type utility knife,” Rees said.

Reese said Griego threw the utility knife into the bucket to be scanned. Signs posted clearly state weapons are not allowed. Rees said security told Griego he had to take it out and that is when started screaming and cursing at deputies.

Griego eventually left the courthouse. He came back a short time later without the knife but he still had the attitude. Rees said Griego then did something that forced deputies to take action.

“He had removed his glasses postured up, took a step back and kind of assumed the fighting posture with the deputy,” Rees said.

Griego was arrested and hauled off to jail. When deputies pried further into Griego they learned he is also a city worker and while he was wasting their time he was on the city’s dime.

“Turns out that Mr Griego was a city employee, who was on the job and was there to be arraigned for a felony crime,” Rees said.

The city confirmed Griego works within the Parks and Recreation department. He’s been employed since 2004.

Griego is now on paid suspension because of the stunt he pulled at court while on the clock.

As for that burglary charge, a criminal complaint states Griego is accused of stealing from a Walmart, after he'd been banned by the store for shoplifting.