Donovan Yazzie held until trial in Bernalillo County DWI crash

Donovan Yazzie will remain behind bars until trial after a Bernalillo County drunk driving crash, a judge ruled. Prosecutors sought pre-trial detention for Yazzie because this incident marks his seventh DWI arrest.

Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Yazzie in August. He already had prior DWI convictions on his record.

Deputies located Yazzie after a white Buick crashed into a pole at a truck stop. Newly obtained body camera video showed Yazzie speaking with responding deputies at the scene.

Yazzie told deputies he was not the person behind the wheel. Deputies told him that witnesses described his clothing perfectly.

A deputy questioned Yazzie directly about the witness descriptions.

“Why are people describing you? With the green shirt, jeans, and a red hat that you crashed into a pole and left.”

“I don’t know,” Yazzie said.

The deputy asked if there was any reason he was identified from the crash.

“I don’t know,” Yazzie said.

Yazzie told deputies he drank one beer two hours before the crash. He gave shifting explanations about his actions.

First, Yazzie claimed he was not inside the vehicle. He later told deputies he was sleeping inside and did not know who drove.

Deputies asked Yazzie if he wanted his phone from the vehicle. He said yes. Deputies found the phone on the floor by the driver’s seat.

Deputies asked Yazzie to take field sobriety tests and a breath test. He refused both.

Yazzie lacked a valid driver’s license, according to deputies. Deputies booked him for driving while intoxicated.

Pre-trial detention hearings determine whether a defendant remains jailed before trial. Judges in Bernalillo County review these requests from prosecutors.

The judge granted the request from prosecutors. Yazzie will stay in jail through his trial.