The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
A Desert Hot Springs man is facing charges after allegedly driving while intoxicated with his dog in the car and leading the police on a chase until he was forced to stop by slamming into two pumps at a gas station.
Around 3:00 AM on July 15, a 24-year-old man was driving a 2019 Honda Civic with his dog in the vehicle. The man was allegedly driving well over the speed limit.
An officer from the Cathedral City Police Department was in the vicinity, and they noticed the allegedly speeding Civic as it reportedly was driven through a red light. The officer attempted to perform a traffic stop.
According to reports, the driver did not pull over. He allegedly continued to drive erratically by speeding while swerving in and out of traffic lanes. He reportedly led the police on a chase and made almost three and a half miles before coming to an explosive stop. His vehicle reportedly struck two gas pumps outside the Sinclair gas station, and the pumps caught fire.
The man was taken to the hospital for treatment before he was transported to jail.
After his release from the hospital, the suspect was booked into the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility. He is facing charges for suspicion of driving while intoxicated, felony evading arrest, resisting arrest, and animal cruelty. He is being held in lieu of a $100,000 bail.
It is reported that the dog was not injured during the incident.
The gas station was closed when the incident occurred, and they assessed the dollar amount of damage done as $100,000. They reported that they were happy no one was terribly injured and felt lucky that no one was working when it happened.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.