Cortez police issued a summons on suspicion of DUI to City Engineer Kenneth Torres on Jan. 24.
According to a report by patrol officer Traci Mueller, Torres was pulled over in the 1000 block of East Main Street shortly after 9 p.m. After reportedly failing to perform a series of roadside maneuvers like a sober person, he was given a blood draw at Southwest Memorial Hospital and released with a court summons. Torres did not have any previous DUI convictions, according to the report.
Mueller reported that Sgt. Brandon Gunderson initially stopped Torres because he was “revving the engine” and squealing his vehicle’s tires at the Mildred Road intersection.
After the vehicles pulled into the parking lot of Front Row Seat on Main Street, Torres reportedly told Gunderson he’d had “a couple of beers” before driving, and Gunderson turned the DUI investigation over to Mueller. A portable breath test showed that at the time of the arrest, Torres’ breath alcohol level was 0.129, over the legal limit of 0.08 percent.
Torres is head of the engineering division of the city’s public works department. Among other things, his division is responsible for ensuring new construction projects comply with city codes and regulations.
He declined to comment on the Jan. 24 incident.
As of Wednesday, Torres did not yet have a scheduled court date.