Police pursue driver during DUI checkpoint
Laguna Beach police said they arrested one motorist on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, while another driver led authorities on a pursuit during a DUI checkpoint earlier this week.
Officers greeted 1,000 drivers on South Coast Highway near Aliso Beach Park between 8 p.m. Sunday and 3 a.m. Monday.
At about 12:20 a.m. Monday, the driver of a red Toyota failed to stop at the checkpoint. Two Laguna officers tried stopping the car, but it headed south at speeds of 30 to 50 mph to Dana Point, Sgt. Tim Kleiser wrote in an email.
Orange County sheriff’s deputies assisted in the pursuit. The car eventually stopped in a San Clemente residential neighborhood, police said.
“The driver exited the car and was unaware law enforcement was behind him,” Kleiser said. “There were no signs of alcohol or drug use by the driver, but officers noticed he did have some mental disabilities.”
He was hospitalized for a mental health evaluation. Police did not provide details about the driver, though he was issued a misdemeanor citation for evading, Kleiser said.
Eight other drivers were either cited or arrested for driving without a license or driving with a suspended or revoked license, according to a news release.
The checkpoint was funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Twitter: @AldertonBryce
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