A fledgling Taos police officer four weeks away from completing the police academy has been fired because he was arrested for alleged drunken-driving following a high-speed chase at speeds in excess of 100 mph.
Officials say 26-year-old Steven Lucero was arrested Nov. 15 following the 27-mile chase that started in Rio Arriba County and that ended in Taos County.
Officers laid out spike strips but Lucero's car didn't stop until its tires were shredded and its wheels were digging into the asphalt.
Lucero was arrested on charges of fleeing an officer, aggravated DWI and reckless driving. It was not immediately known whether he has a lawyer.
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