Detective
arrested on DUII charge
The Springfield investigator
has been placed on leave following the incident
By Jeff Wright
SPRINGFIELD — A Springfield
Police Department detective has been placed on paid administrative leave after
being charged with driving under the influence of intoxicants and resisting
arrest following a weekend incident in Eugene.
Marco Espinoza, 29, also was
charged with interfering with a police officer.
Springfield Police Chief Tim
Doney confirmed Monday night that Espinoza has been placed on leave, pending
the outcome of an internal investigation to determine if he has violated any
department policies.
Doney said the department
expects a high standard of behavior from its employees, while also recognizing
that human beings sometimes make mistakes. He said the department treats
drunken-driving allegations as a serious matter.
“If the allegations are proven
true, we’re disappointed,” Doney said.
Espinoza’s arrest occurred
after a Eugene police officer witnessed a man and woman arguing outside a car
near Chambers Street and Roosevelt Boulevard shortly after 7 p.m. Saturday,
Eugene police spokesman John Hankemeier said Monday.
After making contact with the
man, later identified as Espinoza, officers felt they had probable cause to
believe he had been drinking and driving, Hankemeier said. But when an officer
attempted to take Espinoza into custody, he allegedly became verbally
aggressive and resisted arrest, Hankemeier said.
Espinoza’s vehicle was off to
the side but partially blocking the roadway, police said. There were no reports
of injury to Espinoza or others.
Espinoza was lodged in the Lane
County Jail around 10:30 p.m. Saturday. He was released shortly after 10 a.m.
Sunday, jail records show.
Doney said a Springfield police
sergeant went to the jail Saturday night to inform Espinoza that he had been
placed on administrative leave.
Espinoza was hired by Springfield
as a police officer in 2008 and later promoted to detective.
Espinoza played a key role in
the investigation of the murder of Springfield resident Teresa Sandoval in
2010. A former boyfriend of Sandoval confessed to Espinoza that he had killed
Sandoval, at one point conducting a re-enactment of the murder, according to a
probable cause affidavit written by another detective.
Register-Guard reporter
Christian Hill contributed to this report.
