Sandoval County Deputy Arrested for Aggravated DWI, Suspended

A Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office deputy was arrested on December 7 in Albuquerque on suspicion of aggravated driving while intoxicated after an incident that nearly resulted in a crash. Court records say the deputy allegedly ran a red light at Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and Broadway Boulevard and that he admitted to the arresting officer he had one drink at a University of New Mexico Lobos game prior to driving.

The sheriff’s office confirmed the deputy remains employed pending the outcome of both investigations. "Deputy Saiz is currently employed with the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office, pending the outcome of both the ongoing criminal investigation and an internal affairs investigation," the agency said in a December 12 statement. The office also noted the deputy has been reassigned to administrative duties. "His law enforcement powers have been suspended until all investigative processes are completed," the statement said.

Administrative reassignment and suspension of policing powers are standard interim measures intended to preserve the integrity of investigative processes while limiting operational risks. The immediate procedural steps include the criminal investigation by arresting authorities and an internal affairs inquiry within the sheriff’s office. Both tracks will determine whether charges, disciplinary action, or policy changes follow.

For residents of Sandoval County the case carries implications beyond the individual arrest. Traffic safety and DWI enforcement are perennial local concerns, and an allegation of impaired driving involving a sworn officer can erode public confidence in enforcement institutions. The sheriff’s office will face scrutiny over transparency, timeliness of information, and how it enforces its own conduct standards.

The incident may also factor into broader civic conversations about oversight of county law enforcement and the mechanisms available to voters and elected officials to hold agencies accountable. As investigations continue, residents can expect updates from law enforcement and may monitor public meetings and records for further developments. The outcome will shape not only the deputy’s future but also community perceptions of institutional accountability in Sandoval County.