Gallup Patrolman Dominic Molina was traveling north over Miyamura Overpass early on March 13 when he saw a silver Cadillac in front of him with no tail lights turn onto Hasler Valley Road. Molina activated his unit’s emergency lights and began to make a traffic stop on the vehicle, which pulled over near the New Mexico National Guard Armory, 1480 Hasler Valley Rd.

Another officer arrived on-scene and they met the driver, Gino Escamilla, 42. As he told the officers he was coming from a friend’s house, Molina noted the smell of alcohol coming from inside the vehicle and Escamilla had red glossy eyes and slurred his speech. There was also a can of beer in the cup holder.

Escamilla agreed to take the standard field sobriety tests, but said he had a busted knee that could prevent him from taking some parts of the test. As the tests went on, he began to get upset and said the officers were just harassing him. He eventually failed the tests and was placed under arrest.

A search of the suspect vehicle found several unopened cans of beer in the front and back seats. Escamilla agreed to give a breath sample and was transported to Gallup Police Department for the test. He put up two samples of .10.

Escamilla was allowed to call his brother to pick up his vehicle while he was transported to McKinley County Adult Detention Center and booked for his third DWI, an expired registration, and improper equipment on his vehicle.