House Minority Whip Dan Foley, R-Roswell, was arrested Sunday following a fight at his son’s basketball game.
Foley was charged with disorderly conduct, interfering with a police officer and resisting arrest, all misdemeanors, and was booked into jail before being released on bond. He said he’s planning to fight the charges and will be exonerated.
During the Gus Macker tournament game, Foley said, a fight broke out among the teens on the court. He said a man he believes was the coach of the other team “slammed my kid to the ground, I mean, shoved him to the ground.”
“He shoved him to the ground and squared up with him,” Foley said. “I didn’t get three steps onto the court when three cops slammed me.”
Foley, who, according to the New Mexico Courts Web site, has several speeding citations on record but no other criminal history, said he will “get this cleared.”
“We’re going to court, and I have no doubt we’ll be vindicated,” he said. “Any parent, if you saw an adult attack your 14-year-old son, you would step in too.”
The 37-year-old Foley’s temper has erupted on the House floor in the past, but he is a skilled debater who was instrumental in organizing House Republicans to become effective players during the 2007 Legislature. He helped lead the group to have influence on several topics, including capital outlay distribution and reform of the state’s housing authority system.
He has been a representative since 1999.
Update, 11 a.m.
Democratic Party of New Mexico Executive Director Matt Farrauto had this to say about Foley’s arrest:
“It appears the ex-Foley-ator strikes again,” he said. “It’s pathetic how Foley reinforces his reputation for erratic behavior that rubs people the wrong way. The people of southeastern
For the history of that nickname, click here.
The Republican Party of New Mexico had no comment.
Get more details on Foley’s arrest from the Roswell Daily Record.