A Farmington man has been charged with third-offense driving while intoxicated, possession of a controlled substance and abuse of a child after officers investigated a vehicle complaint near Walmart, according to a criminal complaint and probable cause statement.
Bryan Dale Lafebre, 44, is charged with possession of a controlled substance, abuse of a child by allegedly placing a child in a dangerous situation, and DWI (third offense), according to court records.
All charges are allegations based on court records, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
According to court records, including the probable cause statement, Farmington police were dispatched at about 7:56 p.m. July 19 to Walmart, 4600 E. Main St., after a caller reported observing a black Honda whose driver appeared to be “doing drugs.” The caller also reported seeing a small child inside the vehicle and said she was concerned for the child’s welfare.
According to court records, the reporting party later told officers she observed the driver bending at the waist, sitting back up and scratching his nose while driving alongside her vehicle. She also reported believing the driver appeared to be passing drugs around inside the vehicle, although she told officers she was unsure what substance she believed was involved.
Officers located the vehicle in the Walmart parking lot and, according to the affidavit, Officer D. Garcia reported seeing what he believed was a marijuana pipe in plain view. Court records also state officers reported smelling the odor of freshly burned marijuana.
According to the affidavit, Lafebre told officers he had driven from the west side of town, dropped friends off to buy groceries and planned to visit another friend’s home afterward. He also confirmed a 5-year-old child had been inside the vehicle and was then inside the Walmart with the child’s mother.
Police reported observing bloodshot, watery eyes, a dry mouth, dilated pupils and profuse sweating. According to the affidavit, Lafebre told officers he had smoked marijuana earlier that morning but denied using narcotics, medications or other controlled substances.
The affidavit states a preliminary breath test did not detect alcohol.
According to court records, Lafebre agreed to perform standardized field sobriety tests. The affidavit states officers observed several indicators of impairment during the walk-and-turn and one-leg stand tests before conducting additional Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) tests, which the officer reported showed indicators the officer believed were consistent with impairment.
According to the probable cause statement, officers arrested Lafebre for DWI. During a search incident to arrest, officers alleged they found a clear plastic bag containing a white crystalline substance the officer believed to be methamphetamine.
According to the affidavit, after being advised of his Miranda rights, Lafebre allegedly identified the substance by saying, “It’s Meth!” Police also alleged he told officers he regularly used methamphetamine and had last used it earlier that morning along with marijuana.
Court records state Lafebre declined to consent to a blood draw after officers read New Mexico’s Implied Consent Act. According to the affidavit, officers obtained a nighttime search warrant for a blood sample, transported Lafebre to San Juan Regional Medical Center, and two blood samples were collected by an EMT/ER technician before he was transported to the San Juan County Adult Detention Center.
CHARGES FILED
- Driving while intoxicated (third offense)
- Possession of a controlled substance
- Abuse of a child by allegedly placing a child in a dangerous situation
CASE STATUS
Court records state Lafebre was transported to the San Juan County Adult Detention Center, where he was booked following his arrest. The criminal complaint was filed in San Juan County Magistrate Court. Court records reviewed by San Juan Pulse did not indicate whether Lafebre had retained legal counsel.
SOURCE
According to a criminal complaint, a probable cause statement and an affidavit supporting a search warrant for a blood draw filed in San Juan County Magistrate Court.
LEGAL DISCLAIMER
All charges are allegations based on court records, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.