Third Bernalillo County deputy charged in drunken off-duty incident this year

Feb. 13—When Rio Rancho police pulled up to a domestic dispute at a home early Monday, off-duty Bernalillo County deputy Daniel Vazquez-Moreno was getting into his truck.

Police say an officer grabbed the truck door and Vazquez-Moreno — who had been drinking — locked eyes with the officer before he drove away.

Fifteen minutes later, police pulled over Vazquez-Moreno as he weaved "in and out" of traffic, speeding 70 mph in a 45 mph zone. Court records show his blood alcohol level was three times the legal limit.

Vazquez-Moreno was charged with DWI and battery of a household member after allegedly pushing his girlfriend, who is also a BCSO deputy. His attorney could not be reached Tuesday.

It was the third time this year a deputy with the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office has been charged in a drinking-related incident while off duty.

Deputy Adrienne Seay, who was arrested on a DWI charge, has since resigned. Deputy Michael Borrecco is on administrative leave, accused of drinking and pointing his gun at a bystander.

"I am extremely disappointed that one of our deputies has once again sullied the badge," BCSO Sheriff John Allen said Tuesday of Vazquez-Moreno's arrest.

He added, "No one goes above and beyond the law."

Allen said Vazquez-Moreno, like the others, was placed on paid administrative leave but "doesn't have a path for future employment" at BCSO.

Allen said he watched lapel video from the arrest and found two other off-duty BCSO deputies, Jasmine Quintana and Katherine Maestas, listed as Vazquez-Moreno's girlfriend in court records, showed misconduct toward Rio Rancho officers outside the home.

He did not elaborate on the deputies' actions but said both have been placed on leave for "conduct unbecoming of a deputy."

"I will tell you what happened (Monday), I've been doing this for a long time, it had nothing to do with behavioral health," Allen said. "It was a stupid decision. The other deputies that were there, they made more stupid decisions."

After Vazquez-Moreno was detained, he told Rio Rancho police he drove away when they arrived "because he didn't want things between him and his girlfriend (Maestas) to get worse," according to a criminal complaint filed in Magistrate Court.

Police said Vazquez-Moreno smelled of alcohol, was slurring his words and failed sobriety tests. He told an officer, according to the complaint, that he had been drinking four hours earlier but would not say "what type of alcohol."

A witness at the home, where at least three other off-duty BCSO deputies were present, told police Vazquez-Moreno pushed Maestas. The witness said he then pushed Vazquez-Moreno out of the home.

Allen said there was one off-duty BCSO deputy at the scene who was not placed on leave. He said the deputy, whom he did not name, "is the example and epitome of what a law enforcement officer does off-duty and how you intervene."

"By his actions alone, he made sure that other crimes weren't committed and other violations weren't committed," Allen said.

Allen said, in light of the spate of off-duty arrests, BCSO is reviewing hiring practices and prioritizing early intervention and utilizing resources.

He said they are also holding supervisors accountable.

Allen said the Jan. 25 arrest of Borrecco, whose unit was found littered with vodka bottles, "could have been prevented." He said two supervisors were given a written reprimand for not intervening and were reminded "what's available to them to correct the behavior."

He did not elaborate.

"I'm completely accountable myself. I lead this agency, doesn't matter what the past administration did, doesn't matter what they did not do," Allen said. "It's my responsibility now to take control of that and find a solution and make sure we move beyond these problems."