Disclaimer: This article contains information about a criminal incident. Reader discretion is advised.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The New Mexico Department of Justice has decided not to criminally charge Albuquerque Police Department Chief Harold Medina for causing a crash that seriously injured another driver.
The decision comes after reviewing the crash reports compiled by the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office about the February 17 traffic accident involving Chief Medina.
According to the source, the incident occurred while Chief Medina was on his way to a Saturday news conference with his wife in the car.
During the drive, a man nearby fired a gunshot, prompting Chief Medina to speed through an intersection against a red light, which led to the collision. The driver of the Mustang that Medina hit was severely injured.
Following the incident, the state’s Attorney General requested the sheriff’s department to conduct an independent investigation to determine if criminal charges were warranted.
The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office report stated that Medina committed careless driving, a misdemeanor requiring proof of operating a vehicle in a careless, inattentive, or imprudent manner.
However, the New Mexico Department of Justice concluded that although Chief Medina’s actions might meet the criteria for careless driving, he was under duress due to the gunshot fired toward his vehicle.
They announced on Thursday afternoon that they would not pursue prosecution.
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The Albuquerque Police Department’s Internal Affairs also reviewed the incident and determined that Chief Medina violated two department policies.
Medina failed to safely operate his vehicle while on duty and did not fully activate his on-body recording device following the crash. Consequently, Medina accepted and signed two letters of reprimand from the department.