Former co-op manager arrested for DWI again

For the second time in four months, a former Socorro Electric Cooperative manager was arrested on DWI charges.

Richard A. Lopez, 53, was stopped late in the afternoon of Saturday, Dec. 10, on California Street by the same Socorro police officer who picked him up for DWI in the same vicinity on Sept. 2.

According to his report on the latest arrest, Officer J.P. Gallegos was on patrol when he saw the car Lopez was driving turn north onto California Street and nearly strike a median near the intersection of Baca and California. The vehicle didn’t immediately stop when Gallegos engaged his emergency lights and siren, the report states, but he eventually pulled over a few blocks up the road.

While Lopez was responding to the officer’s request to see his vehicle registration and proof of insurance, Gallegos detected an odor of alcohol and observed that Lopez’s eyes were bloodshot and watery, according to the report.

Lopez was arrested after Gallegos led him through field sobriety tests, and he was transported to the Socorro County Detention Center to take a breath test on an Intoxilyzer machine. Two breath samples were taken – both registering .18. The presumed level of intoxication in New Mexico is .08.

Lopez was booked on charges of aggravated DWI (.16 or higher), failure to use a turn signal, improper turn, failing to maintain a traffic lane, resisting and evading an officer, and failing to show proof of registration and insurance. He was released about three hours later on a $3,400 bond.

After his Sept. 2 arrest, Lopez’s breath tests reportedly measured .20 and .19. He was also charged with failure to use a safety belt.

While pre-trial conferences were scheduled this week for both incidents, they have been continued at the request of the defense. Stephen Kortemeier, Lopez’s attorney, said his client has entered not guilty pleas in both cases and has voluntarily entered a detox and rehabilitation program.

Lopez, who was employed by Socorro Electric for 28 years, was fired from his job as engineering and operations manager last July for allegedly breaking co-op policy. He then filed age discrimination and retaliation complaints against the co-op with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Those matters are still pending.

Lopez served a five-month stint as the co-op’s interim general manager, beginning in August 2010. He received a commendation for volunteer service from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association earlier that year for helping to restore electric power in earthquake-ravaged Haiti.

Lopez served two terms of the Socorro City Council from 1986-90 and 1994-98.

 

-- Email the author at tslast@dchieftain.com.