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A Lordsburg police officer is awaiting his own day in court after being charged with driving under the influence and other offenses connected to an April 27 crash near a gas station.

Iram Hernandez, 34, allegedly struck a yield sign on Motel Drive near a Pilot truck stop in the early morning hours. A Lordsburg police officer who responded to the scene called for a supervisor, according to charging documents, upon discovering the vehicle 鈥� described as a gray Mercedes-Benz 鈥� was registered to Hernandez. Hidalgo County Sheriff鈥檚 Office deputies also responded, arriving on the scene at about 1:40 a.m.

Police say Hernandez, a corporal in the Lordsburg police department, left his vehicle, fled on foot when a deputy approached him and was found soon after apparently hiding behind a sign. A police report alleged that Hernandez denied having had anything to drink, but a deputy described him as exhibiting signs of being drunk, including slurred speech, difficulty with balance and smelling of alcohol. The deputy later found two open containers in the vehicle, according to his report.

Hernandez allegedly refused to participate in sobriety tests and became belligerent with arresting officers. He was booked into the Hidalgo County Detention Center and released under pretrial conditions. District Attorney Norman Wheeler鈥檚 office has charged Hernandez with aggravated driving under the influence; failure to notify owner upon striking a fixture or property; careless driving; having an open container in his car; and criminal damage to property under $1,000. The five charges are all petty misdemeanors. A pretrial hearing has been scheduled in June.

Hernandez has been placed on administrative leave, according to Mayor Martin Neave. His defense attorney declined to comment.

Algernon 顿鈥橝尘尘补蝉蝉补 is the Journal鈥檚 southern New Mexico correspondent. He can be reached at adammassa@abqjournal.com.