BCSO: NM lawyer lunged at deputy

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The prosecutor who heads the Domestic Violence Unit in Bernalillo County is facing charges after she was arrested for assault against a police officer this weekend.

Bernalillo County Deputies say they pulled the car Alisha Maestas was riding in with Sharon Baca, 35, near Tesuque and Montano on suspicion of DWI Saturday evening.

They say as they were conducting a field sobriety test on Baca, who was driving the car, Maestas kept getting out of the car, despite officers orders to stay inside the vehicle. At one point Baca slipped out of her handcuffs and that’s when Maestas allegedly got out of the car again and made a threatening lunge towards an officer.

During the course of the evening’s events deputies say Baca told them her passenger worked for the District Attorney’s office but Maestas tried to deny it.

District Attorney Kari Brandenburg responded to the arrest Monday afternoon, saying she thinks the public needs to have faith in integrity of the office and that they are working on the public’s behalf.  She went on to say, “It’s always a terrible disappointment when something like this happens.  On the other hand we are all human beings.”

Maestas who's been a prosecutor for 12 years sent News 13 a statement Monday saying "I have tremendous respect for law enforcement officers and the job they are entrusted to do every day. I never injured or hurt any officer during this occurrence. Although I feel that I am innocent of these charges, I have resigned my position with the District Attorney's Office to maintain the integrity of the office and because I have a great deal of respect for all of the dedicated employees of the 2nd Judicial District Attorney's Office."

Baca was charged with aggravated DWI because she refused to take a breathalyzer test.

Deputies say they never tested Maestas to see if she was drunk but based on her behavior believe she had been drinking.