New Mexico State police officer Lucero arrested on charges of beating his wife (with their kids present)

New Mexico State Police Officer Calvin Lucero, who was named one of the officers of the year in 2010, and whose twin brother is also a police officer - has been arrested on charges of choking and beating his wife Erin's face and head as "they" were driving with their young children in the car.

While "they" were driving:

...Lucero's wife, Erin Garcia, told police her husband was "beyond wasted" from drinking beer and shots of tequila and started hitting her on her head and face with his fists while they were driving... According to the report, police said [Erin] Garcia had large red marks on the front and side of her neck and a fresh laceration on her left ear... He said "not to ruin his career and that he didn't do anything wrong"... 

POLICE OFFICER ARRESTED FOR STRIKING WIFE
The News-Bulletin
Brent Ruffner bruffner@news-bulletin.com
Wednesday, 31 August 2011
[Excerpts] A New Mexico State police officer was placed on administrative leave after he was arrested early Sunday morning on charges that he struck his wife several times when the couple were driving to their Los Lunas home in Huning Ranch. At about 1:15 a.m., Los Lunas police responded to a call that state police officer Calvin Lucero physically assaulted his wife while the two were on their way home from a party... Lucero, 30, who has been with the New Mexico State Police for seven years, was arrested on one count of battery on a household member by the Los Lunas Police Department at his home... Lucero's wife, Erin Garcia, told police her husband was "beyond wasted" from drinking beer and shots of tequila and started hitting her on her head and face with his fists while they were driving... The report said Lucero grabbed Garcia by the neck with two hands and began to choke her... and hit her in the face and pushed her head against the car window... Garcia called police from a neighbor's house after Lucero exited the vehicle. The report said the couple's two young children, ages 1 and 5, were in the vehicle for the entire incident. The report said Garcia was hesitant to write police a statement of what happened "because the situation was bad because it involved a (New Mexico) state police officer." According to the report, police said Garcia had large red marks on the front and side of her neck and a fresh laceration on her left ear. Lucero initially told police he didn't hit his wife and that the two got into a verbal argument after they left the party and that he started doing laundry when he returned home, the report said. But he admitted there was a physical altercation after police told him of Garcia's account of the night's events. He told police Garcia hit him and showed police a small scratch on his right forearm. He said "not to ruin his career and that he didn't do anything wrong," the report said. Police contacted District Court Judge John Pope, who waived the bond amount and allowed Lucero to be released on his own recognizance... [Full article here]

[trooper police officer involved domestic violence oidv intimate partner violence ipv abuse law enforcement public safety lethal state politics]