APD Arrests Man on Aggravated DWI After Report of Erratic Driving Near Gateway Center

Albuquerque –

On the evening of January 11, 2026, officers from the Albuquerque Police Department were dispatched to a suspicious person/suspicious vehicle call at the Gateway Center, located at 5400 Gibson Blvd SE. Dispatch was told that security personnel at the Gateway Center had called to report a highly intoxicated male subject who was running into people and security staff after dropping off food. The suspect was described as an adult Native American male, approximately 35 years of age, wearing a black beanie and a dark leather jacket, and he was seen getting into a gray Chevy Equinox.

Dispatch was further informed that the male had been driving recklessly, swerving into curbs, hopping over curbs, and even entering the median into heavy traffic. Responding officers were also made aware that the Northeast Area Command had issued a “be on the lookout” or “BOLO” for the same SUV after it nearly T-boned another vehicle earlier near San Mateo and Montgomery.

Two APD officers reported spotting the Chevy Equinox traveling northbound on San Mateo. Two additional officers waited for the SUV at Central and San Mateo, and initiated a traffic stop.

The Chevy Equinox stopped at San Mateo and Copper, and the driver, later identified as Garrick Chinana, exited the vehicle. According to the criminal complaint, he was the sole occupant of the SUV. Officers observed Chinana stumbling and swaying as he exited, and detected a strong smell of alcohol on Chinana as they approached.

Chinana told officers that he had prepared food for his sister at his residence near San Mateo and McCloud, and had gone to the Gateway Center to deliver it. He said he was returning home and admitted to drinking about three beers roughly three hours earlier.

Chinana initially agreed to complete Standardized Field Sobriety Tests. However, while instructions were being given by officers for the starting position of the Walk-and-Turn test, he verbally stated that he did not want to continue with the tests and instead wanted to submit to breath testing. After nearly losing his balance and falling into heavy traffic, officers placed him in handcuffs and into the back of a patrol unit.

Chinana was transported to the APD Prisoner Transport Center. The criminal complaint says that he provided two breath samples at approximately 7:14 PM, both of which were above the legal limit.

Chinana was booked into MDC on January 11th at 11:05 PM. He is facing charges of Aggravated DWI Driving While Under the Influence of Liquor and/or Drugs (Open Count)(4th/Subs Off), according to New Mexico court records and MDC’s booking charges.