LCPD: Mother intoxicated when she crashed with children inside car

Police charged a Las Cruces mother with child abuse after she allegedly drove drunk and wrecked a vehicle while her two children were riding as passengers, said Las Cruces Police.

Minerva Ann Garcia, 24, of the 200 block of Three Crosses Avenue, is charged with one third-degree felony count of child abuse, and misdemeanor counts of aggravated driving while intoxicated and resisting, evading or obstructing an officer. Police said Garcia also faces charges of leaving the scene of an accident and failure of driver to exercise due care.

Police were dispatched to the report of a black Dodge Charger that struck another car in a parking lot at 201 Three Crosses Avenue after midnight on Tuesday, March 12, 2019.

The caller told police the driver of the Charger, later identified as Garcia, was possibly drunk and had two children in the vehicle. The caller stated the Charger left the apartment complex heading east.

Police said officers were present as the driver of the Charger returned to the apartment complex. Garcia was driving the Charger with her two young children, ages 3 and 5, unrestrained in the backseat, police said.

Garcia allegedly showed signs of impairment such as blood-shot and watery eyes, slurred speech and the odor of an “alcoholic beverage,” police said.

Police said officers tried to detain Garcia, but she got back into her vehicle and appeared as though she wanted to drive away.

Once in custody, Garcia allegedly told investigators she drank at least six shots of vodka between 6 p.m. and midnight on Monday, March 11. Garcia acknowledged she drove from her mother’s home to her apartment after consuming the vodka.

Garcia was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center where she is initially being held without bond.