DWI and related child abuse charges have been filed in Farmington Magistrate Court following a February traffic complaint in the City of Farmington, according to a Statement of Probable Cause.
The filing, submitted in San Juan County, alleges an early morning traffic stop led to standardized field sobriety testing, breath testing and an arrest.
The case follows a separate Farmington DWI traffic stop involving an unsecured infant, where child abuse charges were also filed in Magistrate Court, according to a Statement of Probable Cause.
What Court Records Allege
According to the statement, at approximately 3:30 a.m. on Feb. 20, 2026, a Farmington police officer was dispatched to a gas station on East Main Street after an anonymous caller reported a black Ford truck traveling eastbound and “swerving” and “driving crazy.” The caller advised that the vehicle had pulled into the parking lot.
The document states officers located a black 2012 Ford truck with a temporary New Mexico registration matching the description. The reporting officer wrote that the driver had bloodshot, watery eyes, slurred speech and a faint odor of an intoxicating beverage coming from his breath.
Field Sobriety Testing
The officer administered standardized field sobriety tests, including the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test, the Walk and Turn test and the One Leg Stand test, according to the filing.
During the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test, the officer documented four out of six possible clues, noting lack of smooth pursuit and distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation in both eyes. During the Walk and Turn test, the officer documented two out of eight possible clues, stating the driver stopped walking, asked questions about instructions and performed an improper turn.
During the One Leg Stand test, the officer recorded two clues, stating the driver placed his foot down before the 30-second count concluded and swayed during the test.
Arrest and Vehicle Investigation
According to the statement, the driver was placed under arrest for DWI. During a search incident to arrest, officers reported locating two sealed 50-milliliter containers of Yukon Jack whiskey in his front jacket pockets.
The filing states two juveniles were seated in the back of the truck and an adult female, identified in the report as his aunt, was in the front passenger seat at the time of the stop. The officer made contact with the adult passenger, who agreed to perform an eye test and was reported to show no signs of intoxication. The document states she told officers she and the juveniles had been at Crouch Mesa before traveling to the gas station.
Officers also spoke with the reporting party, who stated she observed the truck traveling eastbound on East Main Street and swerving within its lane before pulling into the gas station parking lot.
Breath Test Results
Following transport to the Farmington Police Department, the driver provided two breath samples using an Intoxilyzer 9000, according to the filing. The first sample measured between 0.12 and 0.13 BrAC, and the second sample measured 0.12 BrAC. The officer documented that the machine was certified and operating properly at the time of testing.
The statement indicates the driver was subsequently transported to the San Juan County Detention Center and booked.
Charges Filed
- Driving While Intoxicated (First Offense)
- Two counts of Child Abuse (Placed in a Dangerous Situation)
Case Status
The charges were filed in Farmington Magistrate Court under case number M-47-FR-2026-00116. As outlined in the court filing, this is identified as a first DWI offense. Further court proceedings will determine the outcome of the case.
Source: Statement of Probable Cause filed in Farmington Magistrate Court, San Juan County, filed Feb. 23, 2026. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. Charges are allegations. No determination of guilt has been made.