APD: Lobo QB pepper-sprayed girlfriend

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Barely a year ago, Ryan Trujillo was New Mexico's Gatorade Player of the Year for football and led the Manzano Monarchs to the state championship game.

But Albuquerque police say it was the 18-year-old University of New Mexico walk-on quarterback's actions Friday that led him to jail.

According to a criminal complaint, the incident started when Trujillo, a redshirt freshman with the Lobos, entered a Weck's Restaurant on Juan Tabo Boulevard. and found his girlfriend eating with her friend.

Police say witnesses told them Trujillo was clearly agitated and grabbed the girlfriend's keys from the table and went to the parking lot.

"She followed him and asked for her keys back," said Officer Rob Gibbs with the Albuquerque Police Department.  "He refused."

That's when investigators say Trujillo grabbed a pink pepper-spray cannister on her keychain and sprayed his girlfriend in the face with it. According to the criminal complaint, Trujillo later told officers this was an accident.

Police say Trujillo then tried to get into the car and the couple struggled over a purse Trujillo had bought the girlfriend as a Christmas present.

"He grabbed at her arms a couple of times," Gibbs said. "She was able to get away and go to the restaurant."

After recovering her keys with the help of some Weck's employees, investigators say the girlfriend was able to drive away and call police.

Trujillo was later arrested in the restaurant's parking lot. He's facing a domestic violence charge.

The UNM football team released a statement Friday night saying it is aware of the report and is looking into it.

This is the first police incident involving the Lobos since new head coach Bob Davie took over. In November of 2010, three players were suspended from the team following a brawl at a downtown night club.

Last September, strength and conditioning coach Troy Hatton was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated.

According to the criminal complaint, Trujillo and his girlfriend had been arguing since Thursday, and she told him she no longer wanted to date him.