New Mexico State Police report details Las Cruces police officer's DWI arrest

Bethany Brunelle-Raja
Las Cruces Sun-News
Lourdes Hernandez

Updated at 2:43 p.m. 

LAS CRUCES - An early morning traffic stop Saturday resulted in a Las Cruces police officer being charged with aggravated drunk driving, speeding and negligent use of a deadly weapon. 

According to New Mexico State Police, Lourdes Hernandez, 25, was stopped at 2:57 a.m. on Interstate 25 near milepost 1, traveling 73 miles per hour in a 55 mile-per-hour speed zone. 

On Monday, Hernandez was placed on paid administrative leave. 

During the traffic stop, State Police report Hernandez, who showed signs of impairment, identified herself as a Las Cruces police officer and said she had her duty firearm with her. 

Hernandez, who refused a breathalyzer test, was arrested and booked into the Doña Ana County Detention Center where she was later released on her own recognizance. 

PREVIOUS:A Las Cruces police officer has been arrested and charged for drunk driving

Dusty Francisco, spokesperson for NMSP, said there are three ways a drunk driving suspect is charged with aggravated DWI: when a person blows twice the legal limit (which is 0.08 in New Mexico) in a breathalyzer test; when a person refuses a breathalyzer test; or when there's bodily injury.

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Bethany Freudenthal can be reached at bfreudenthal@lcsun-news.com, 575-541-5449 or @bethanyfreuden1 on Twitter. 

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