Espanola officer has run-in with the law, again

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The Espanola Police Department chief says an officer, who had another run-in with the law,  job is now on the line.

KRQE News 13 reported on Officer Moises Pena last year when he was found by other officers drunk in his truck, with the engine on. However, no one ran any DWI tests.

This time, he is accused of assault  and spitting on a security officer.

The latest allegations happened early Saturday morning at Buffalo Thunder.

According to the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office report, Pena and another patron got in a verbal fight.

When security officers asked them to leave, they didn’t like it.

One of them threatened the security officer “not to drive through Espanola.”

Then, according to the report, Pena spit on one them before finally leaving.

“As far as I'm aware, the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Department is wrapping up its investigation and charges are forthcoming of the officer himself,” said Eric Garcia, Chief of the Espanola Police Department and Director of Public Safety for Espanola Valley.

A year ago, police say they found Pena passed out in his truck at a convenience store with the engine running.

He was suspected of being under the influence, but no one gave him a DWI test and he wasn’t arrested for refusing one. 

This time, the Espanola Police Department says they’re ready to take action on the allegations against Pena.
 
“As soon as that investigation is completed, they'll give me a copy of the report, that way I can seek out administrative sanctions if warranted,” said Garcia.

For Pena, that could mean he will lose his job.

The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office is waiting on security video from Buffalo Thunder Casino that, according to the report, will show a man spitting on a security officer.

If they identify him as Pena, they will press charges.

KRQE News 13 is still waiting to hear from Espanola Police Department whether anyone was disciplined for failing to give Pena a DWI test or arresting him last year.