Albuquerque fire captain arrested for DWI

Posted at: 09/18/2009 4:55 PM | Updated at: 09/18/2009 5:40 PM
By: Eric Kahnert, Eyewitness News 4; Charlie Pabst, KOB.com

An Albuquerque Fire Department captain is arrested for drunk driving—more than three times the legal limit.

Fire officials held a news conference at the AFD Fire Academy to discuss the arrest of 39-year-old fire Captain Joshua Ortega's arrest Thursday while driving along Interstate 40.

Police say Ortega blew a .26—more than three times the legal limit.

Officers say they pulled Ortega over at Carlisle and I-40 on Thursday night around 9 p.m. for speeding through a construction zone.

They say Captain Ortega reeked of booze and failed field sobriety tests.

Ortega is a 16-year veteran with AFD. He commanded Fire Station 13 near Menaul and San Mateo.

As for punishment, Ortega has been demoted three ranks to firefighter, which comes with a $25,000 a year pay cut.

Deputy Chief Craig Sadberry said Friday, "Situations like this are unfortunate, because it does tarnish our image and it's an image we work very hard to protect. It's very unfortunate."

He said of Ortega, "He feels terrible, he feels like he let the department down, himself down."

Ortega will be back at work next week, but will not be driving a vehicle.

He is not related to AFD Fire Chief Robert Ortega.

Chief Ortega has been touring all of Albuquerque's fire stations to talk to firefighters about the rash of recent arrests involving firefighters.

When the fire chief visited Station 13 to deliver that message, we're told Captain Ortega was not present.

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