NMSU philosophy professor arrested for DWI, allegedly took swing at officer

Bethany Freudenthal | Las Cruces Sun-News

LAS CRUCES - A New Mexico State University philosophy professor was arrested early Monday morning and charged with aggravated drunk driving.

According to court documents, Timothy Cleveland, 61, is also charged with one count of battery upon a peace officer; assaulting a police officer; resisting, evading or obstructing an arrest; and the failure to obey a traffic signal. Battery upon a peace officer is a felony charge.

Las Cruces Police Officer Mark Reiff reports he was observing traffic on the intersection of North Main Street and Interstate 25, when just after 1 a.m., he saw a blue sedan fail to stop at a red traffic light.

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After initiating a traffic stop, Reiff states in court documents that he could smell a strong odor of alcohol coming from Cleveland, who was driving the vehicle.

When Reiff asked Cleveland for his driver's license and insurance information, he said Cleveland struggled to get it out of his wallet, and was struggling to sit in the vehicle's seat.

According to court documents, Reiff asked Cleveland to step out of the vehicle, and when he did that, Cleveland and his passenger became irate, yelling at the officer.

Multiple patrolmen were called to the scene to assist Reiff with the traffic stop. Cleveland allegedly continued to refuse officer's orders to exit the vehicle, and eventually, he was forcibly removed.

During the incident, court documents state Cleveland swung with a closed fist at Reiff, and allegedly kicked and assaulted LCPD officer Lourdes Hernandez, as the two were attempting to detain him.

Court documents state Cleveland made his body limp in order to stop his arrest.

He was booked into the Doña Ana County Detention Center.

According to his NMSU biography, Cleveland joined the university in 1987 and in 2002 he was presented the Donald C. Roush Award for Teaching Excellence. He served as department head of the Philosophy Department from 2002 to 2010. He is the author of "Trying Without Willing: An Essay in the Philosophy of Mind" and his philosophical works include essays for popular audiences on "Chronicles of Narnia" and on the music of U2.

Bethany Freudenthal can be reached at bfreudenthal@lcsun-news.com, 575-541-5449 or @bethanyfreuden1 on Twitter.

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