Sept. 13--A New Mexico State Police employee was arrested early Sunday morning in downtown Santa Fe after allegedly kicking a city of Santa Fe police officer during a scuffle.
The criminal complaint charges Paula Espinosa, 28, of Albuquerque with battery upon a peace officer, battery against a household member, resisting or evading an officer and concealing her identity. She was in the courtyard of the Hotel Chimayo de Santa Fe, 125 Washington Ave., when police confronted her.
Officer Justin Anaya was at the hotel breaking up another fight at about 1:50 a.m., according to the complaint, when he saw Espinosa striking a man multiple times in the face. While Anaya separated the two, the man told police, "No, everything is all right," according to the warrant.
After Espinosa was placed in handcuffs, the complaint says, she "continued to scream, telling officers to let her go ... then lifted her right leg off the ground and kicked back" toward them.
The complaint said one of her kicks connected with Anaya's right leg.
Lt. Robert McDonald of the state police confirmed Wednesday that Espinosa is a civilian employee of the state Department of Public Safety and is an administrative assistant in the Special Investigations Division.
Santa Fe police Capt. Aric Wheeler said Wednesday that Espinosa made no mention of her position with the state police during her arrest. Wheeler did say that Espinosa appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.
"Our expectation in that situation is for someone to cooperate and tell us their side of the story," Wheeler said.
Anaya and another officer summoned backup when Espinosa called out to two other people in the courtyard for help.
According to Wheeler, it took four officers to calm the situation, and Espinosa eventually was taken into custody. The criminal complaint says the man she was hitting, the father of her 18-month-old son, suffered a large scratch on the left side of his face.
According to online court records, Espinosa was released Monday on a $5,000 surety bond. She did not enter a plea at her arraignment.
State police did not confirm Wednesday whether any disciplinary action has been taken against Espinosa.
Contact Nico Roesler at 986-3089 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @nicoroesler.
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