by Caleb Fort
Daily Lobo
Marc Saavedra, UNM's government relations director, was arrested Wednesday on charges of aggravated DWI, according to a Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court criminal complaint.
At 11:59 p.m., a State Police officer was dispatched to the intersection of Fifth Street and Central Avenue in response to another officer who had pulled over an intoxicated driver, according to the complaint.
Saavedra was driving a white Range Rover, and he had stopped for several seconds at a green light before being pulled over, according to the complaint.
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His eyes were bloodshot and watery, according to the complaint.
Saavedra told the officer he did not drink alcohol that evening and just wanted to go home, according to the complaint.
Saavedra failed multiple field sobriety tests, according to the complaint. He could not focus on a moving object and hopped while trying to balance on one foot, according to the complaint.
At about 12:32 a.m., the officer arrested Saavedra, according to the complaint.
Saavedra was handcuffed and driven to the New Mexico State Police office, according to the complaint.
At the office, Saavedra refused to take a blood-alcohol-level test, according to the complaint.
Refusal to take the test elevates the offense to aggravated DWI, according to New Mexico law.
Saavedra was incarcerated at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center for aggravated DWI, according to the complaint. He was also cited for not wearing a seat belt and stopping, standing and parking on a roadway, according to the complaint.
Saavedra was released Thursday, according to Metropolitan Court documents.
Saavedra could not be reached for comment Thursday night.
David Harris, UNM's acting president, said he had not heard much about Saavedra's arrest as of Thursday night.
"I don't think it's wise to come to conclusions before I'm clear on all the details," he said.
Harris appointed Saavedra as government relations director on June 13, 2006, according to the UNM Web site.
Harris said he has heard only good things about Saavedra.
"He's been a good employee at UNM from every report I've received," he said. "He's a fine guy. If he has some problems, I'm sure it's something he'll deal with in an upstanding way."
Karen Wentworth, University spokeswoman, said she would not comment on personnel issues.
Saavedra was found guilty of aggravated DWI in 1997, according to Metropolitan Court documents. He was fined $114 and his license was revoked for three months, according to court documents.
He served as the Metropolitan Court's administrator until Oct. 13, 2005, according to the court's Web site.
Saavedra is the son of Democratic state Rep. Henry "Kiki" Saavedra.
